ECC3830 · Industrial organisation and competition policy

Overview

Industrial organisation (IO) studies firm behaviour and its consequences in settings where the assumption of perfect competition fails, i.e., where we can no longer just think about the intersection of a demand and supply curve. The topics include pricing and marketing strategies that individual firms can use to increase profits (price discrimination, bundling, advertising); the effects of interactions between firms and problems that can arise if they coordinate on anti-competitive strategies (cartels, merger, entry, vertical restraints, exclusive dealing); the design of marketplaces (network effect); and public policy responses to firm behaviour, including antitrust laws and regulation.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. explain the basis for competition and rationale for regulation, and the basis of different theories of regulation
2. evaluate the impacts of certain market conducts such as horizontal mergers, vertical integration, exclusive dealing and collusion
3. understand the main features of competition policies in Australia and around the world
4. understand the variety of approaches to competition policies from the international perspective
5. critically evaluate attempts to increase competition in particular industries, such as online retailing, electricity, telecommunications and other relevant industries, where there are ongoing antitrust and regulation concerns.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.