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Economics for Competition Lawyers (LAWS70010)
Graduate coursework level 7Points: 12.5Not available in 2017
Overview
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Competition law cases before the courts, tribunals and administrative agencies and applications for clearance of mergers by administrative agencies require economic analysis. This analysis increasingly relies on sophisticated techniques of economics, such as oligopoly models, game theory, critical loss analysis and the use of regression to analyse data. This subject provides an opportunity for competition lawyers to familiarise themselves with these techniques so that they can more readily identify what evidence and information might be appropriate in particular cases. The subject makes no use of algebra; the techniques are presented by means of simple numerical examples. The lecturer is one of Australia’s leading economists in this field and over a period of three decades has given advice to all the leading law firms in Australia and New Zealand and competition authorities on economic issues and oral evidence in many of the leading cases in both countries.
Principal topics include:
- The values underlying competition law
- Markets, market power and competition
- The economics of collusion
- Barriers to entry
- The effect of vertical arrangements on competition
- Economic issues in misuse of market power
- Mergers with homogeneous products
- Mergers with differentiated products
- Economic efficiency and authorisation
- Quantification of penalties and damages.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced appreciation of the economic rationale behind the competition provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)
- Understand and be able to use in a sophisticated and applied way the economic terminology and concepts used in competition law
- Have an advanced understanding of the relevance of the economic theories of competition and efficiency to competition law
- Appreciate how economic techniques can be used to develop and present evidence in competition law matters before the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australian Competition Tribunal and the courts.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Melbourne Law Masters Students: None
JD Students: Successful completion of the below subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50063 | Competition Law |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS90065 | Foundations: Competition Law & Economics |
Term 1 (Online)
Term 3 (Online)
|
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Class participation (10%)
- Take-home examination (5,000-6,000) (50%)
- 4,000 word research paper (40%) (3 August) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2017
Time commitment details
136-150 hours The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Competition and Consumer Law Course Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies Course Master of Commercial Law Course Master of Competition and Consumer Law Course Master of Laws - Links to additional information
law.unimelb.edu.au
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-admissions@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
Last updated: 3 November 2022