Course 2026-2027 a.y.

Part I -  Competition Policy

L1  - Introduction. Competition Policy: goals, instruments and norms

L2  - Market definition and the Assessment of Market Power

L3  - Agreements and collusion: coordination, monitoring and punishment

L4 - Factors and practices facilitating collusion

L5 - Cartel Prosecution and Leniency Programs, private enforcement

L6 - Horizontal Mergers: unilateral effects and efficiency gains

L7  - Horizontal mergers: the impact on innovation

L8 - Abuse of dominance: the identification of abusive practices

L9 - Abuse of dominance: predatory pricing, rebates, margin squeeze  Case: Intel,

L10  - Abuse of dominance: tying, exclusive dealing Cases: Qualcom, Microsoft

L11 - Abuse of dominance: Vertical foreclosure Case: Google Shopping

Part 2 – Regulation

L12  - Regulation: optimal regulation and information rents

L13  - Rate of return and Price cap Regulation

L14 – Digital Markets: network effects,  the role of data

L15 – Digital Markets: Market places and Attention Platforms

L16 - Digital Markets: Digital Market Act 

Part 3 – Liberalization

L17  - Liberalization: Market design

L18 - Liberalization: Market design

L19 - Electricity

L20 - Electricity

L21 - Natural Gas

L22) - Natural Gas

L23 - Telecoms

L24 - Telecoms

• understand the logic and the tools adopted in competition policy case law and decisions
• understand the criteria to design a liberalization plan
• understand how the different policy tools (antitrust, regulation) should be assigned to the different market segments
• understand the specificities of the main public utilities exposed to liberalization plans (energy, telecoms, digital)
• understand the logic and the mechanisms adopted in the regulation of the natural monopoly segments

• offer an advise to defendants or plaintiffs on how to frame an antitrust case
• offer an advise on how to move from a general regulatory mechanism into the practical design of the scheme adopted
• offer an advise on how to design a liberalization plan, how to identify the relevant markets, how to promote more competition through entry and dismissal of assets

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Collaborative Works / Assignments
• Interaction/Gamification

• Guest speakers: offer the view of practitioners, including members of public authorities, consultancy firms and companies
• Collaborative works: form groups of students and assign the exposition and discussion on relevant cases
• Interaction/Gamification: the lectures' style will promote active participation and discussions

Written exam: this is the fundamental tool to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the logic and tools adopted in competition policy case law and decisions, the criteria for designing liberalization plans, the allocation of antitrust and regulatory tools to different market segments, and the regulatory mechanisms adopted for natural monopoly segments.

Collaborative work and assignments: these activities assess attending students’ ability to apply the concepts and tools discussed in the course to antitrust cases and regulatory issues, including the framing of antitrust cases, the practical design of regulatory schemes, the design of liberalization plans, the identification of relevant markets, and the promotion of competition through entry and divestiture of assets. They also assess students’ ability to organize and present their analysis in a clear and structured way.

Active class participation: this component assesses students’ ability to actively contribute to class discussion through questions, comments and proposals, and to discuss competition policy and regulatory issues using the concepts and tools covered in the course.

Written exam: this is the fundamental tool to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of the logic and tools adopted in competition policy case law and decisions, the criteria for designing liberalization plans, the allocation of antitrust and regulatory tools to different market segments, and the regulatory mechanisms adopted for natural monopoly segments. The written exam is also intended to assess students’ ability to apply these concepts and tools to relevant policy and regulatory issues, including the framing of antitrust cases, the practical design of regulatory schemes, the design of liberalization plans, the identification of relevant markets, and the promotion of competition through entry and divestiture of assets.

Motta Massimo  - Competition Policy: Theory and Practice - Cambridge University Press

A reading list will be distributed