Ghosal, Vivek --- "Assessing potential competition in antitrust markets" [2013] ELECD 468; in Neumann, Manfred; Weigand, Jürgen (eds), "The International Handbook of Competition – Second Edition" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013) 265

Book Title: The International Handbook of Competition – Second Edition

Editor(s): Neumann, Manfred; Weigand, Jürgen

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781849802680

Section: Chapter 10

Section Title: Assessing potential competition in antitrust markets

Author(s): Ghosal, Vivek

Number of pages: 42

Abstract/Description:

Antitrust laws and enforcement actions strive to preserve or enhance competition in markets. Relatively competitive markets are expected to result in lower prices for products and services, which promote consumer welfare. More competitive markets may also lead to increases in efficiency. Efficiency of markets can be related to pure production efficiency, as well as organizational and transactional costs efficiencies. Finally, more competitive markets may result in greater process and product innovations, as firms strive to bring new products and more variety and quality to the markets. It is these likely effects on market prices, growth, efficiencies and innovation that have resulted in antitrust occupying an important place in economic policy. There are three broad areas of antitrust activity: evaluation of mergers; assessment of anti-competitive behavior related to monopolization (dominance); and detecting and busting cartels. In evaluation of mergers, the first task is to define the relevant market, then examine entry conditions and actual and potential competition, and assess market power and efficiencies.