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Cartels (LAWS90064)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
About this subject
Contact information
October
Teaching staff:
Julie Clarke (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | October - Online |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Cartel conduct is regarded as anathema to competitive markets and consumer welfare. Such conduct encompasses various forms of collusion or collaboration between competitors, the most serious of which involve fixing prices, dividing markets, restricting output and rigging bids. These categories of collusion have been shown to raise prices, reduce quality and choice, and stifle business responsiveness and innovation. They are also hard to detect, prosecute and deter. Tougher anti-cartel laws and sanctions have been a high priority for competition authorities in recent years. While there is a high degree of consensus around the world as to the core tenets of the prohibitions applicable to serious cartel conduct, there is a vigorous discourse amongst authorities, practitioners, business and academics regarding the most effective approaches to sanctioning and enforcement.
At the same time, not all agreements between business rivals are anti-competitive or detrimental to consumer welfare. Some, such as joint ventures or distribution agreements, may be driven by efficiencies or may be welfare-enhancing in other ways. Competition laws and their enforcement therefore need to distinguish between different types of conduct involving competitors based on their economic rationale and likely effects.
This subject considers the economic principles relevant to collusion (or horizontal restraints). Students examine critically and in-depth the main prohibitions and exemptions or defences that apply to cartel conduct and other types of collaboration between competitors. They explore who should be held liable for such conduct (companies and/or individuals) and what approaches are or should be taken to sanctioning (administrative and/or criminal). Finally, students explore and assess the effectiveness of the policies and tools that competition authorities deploy in detecting, prosecuting and deterring cartels, as well as learn about and analyse the vigorous debates that relate to private actions for damages arising out of such conduct.
Highlights of the subject include:
- Critical examination of the approaches taken to the design and application of cartel laws and sanctions, drawing on examples from different jurisdictions around the world;
- Use of the rich body of theoretical and empirical research relating to cartel conduct as well as analysis of actual cases and competition authority policy documents and guidelines to aid this examination; and
- Insights and perspectives from leading stakeholders such as competition authority officials and practitioners to assist students in grappling with the challenges posed by the design and enforcement of anti-cartel rules.
Important note on delivery
The teaching and learning activities in LAWS90074 Cartels run online across an 8-week extended study period.
This subject will primarily feature asynchronous online learning activities, including discussion boards. In addition, there will be 2-3 optional and essential live online classes delivered by the subject coordinator.
Make sure to check LMS Canvas for the latest information on the subject schedule, webinars and discussion board activities.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students will have developed:
- An advanced knowledge of the economic principles, legal rules and enforcement approaches that apply to cartel conduct;
- Sophisticated cognitive and technical skills that equip them to critically analyse and assess anti-cartel laws and enforcement approaches;
- A capacity to use the knowledge and skills students have gained in the subject in a way that demonstrates effective autonomy, judgment, adaptability and responsibility as an expert learner and practitioner in the field of global competition and consumer law.
Last updated: 19 September 2024