The Pros and Cons
The Swedish Competition Authority annually publishes an anthology entitled “The Pros and Cons”, in which researchers and experts present their view on a particular competition issue. The book is later discussed at an international seminar, where representatives from competition authorities worldwide act as opponents.
The event “Pros and Cons” is arranged to disseminate and deepen the knowledge of central topics within the competition area and to allow researchers and practitioners to meet and exchange ideas. Since the first book was published in 2002, prominent economists and lawyers have discussed the pros and cons of interesting issues within the competition law.
Pros and Cons 2010
This year, the theme for the seminar is "Standard Setting". The seminar is held in Stockholm on the 12th of November 2010.
A selection from the different anthologies
The Pros and Cons of competition in/by the Publich Sector
Public intervention in markets can often result in distortion of competition, but how should it be analyzed? This question is explored in the book “The Pros and Cons of Competition in/by the Public Sector”.
The Pros and Cons of Vertical Restraints
Do consumers stand to gain or lose when a manufacturer determines prices all the way through to the retail stage? Not even the researchers can agree on the answer. The Competition Authority contributed to the debate on this controversial issue by organising the seminar "The Pros and Cons of vertical restraints".
The Pros and Cons of High Prices
Are high prices always a sign of inadequate competition? And why do competition authorities so seldom act against extremely high prices? These are two of the key questions in the book "The Pros and Cons of High Prices".
The Pros and Cons of Information Sharing
Information sharing between competing companies may benefit the consumer. There are some information sharing activities that are not good for the consumer though, such as price agreements and market sharing etc. "The Pros and Cons of Information Sharing" tackles these issues and how the competition authorities should act in the light of recent research.
The Pros and Cons of Price Discrimination
Price discrimination exists in different forms and it is a phenomenon which can have both positive and negative effects for the consumers as well as for welfare. The analysis of price discrimination has deep roots in the economic discipline, where it has long been recognized that it can be for good and for bad – and sometimes even necessary.
The Pros and Cons of Antitrust in Deregulated Markets
The theme of the book "The Pros and Cons of Antitrust in Deregulated Markets" deals with the relationship between competition legislation and sectoral regulation. When is sector specific deregulation needed to steer the actions of undertakings and when is general legislation on competition sufficient?
The Pros and Cons of Low Prices
Can prices be too low? Yes, if the dominant undertaking tries to eliminate its competitors through predatory pricing. In the long run this can lead to reduced competition and higher prices. In order to learn more about the difficult subject of predatory pricing, the Competition Authority invited leading researchers in the area to submit contributions to the anthology "The Pros and Cons of Low Prices".
The Pros and Cons of Merger Control
In the book "The Pros and Cons of Merger Control" prominent economists evaluate how accurate the Commission has been for the last ten years in prohibiting anti-competitive concentrations and allowing those who promote competition.