Law and Economics in European Merger Control

• Provides a thorough introduction to the economic theory behind merger control, invaluable to lawyers without a full economic background
• Offers an exhaustive analysis of the application of economics in merger regulation, critiquing the current state of the law against its economic ends
• Sets out a full account of the European Commission's search for a 'more economic approach' to merger control, a central feature in current competition policy

Law and Economics in European Merger Control provides a thorough introduction to the economic theory underlying the regulation of mergers. The central economic concepts of efficiency and welfare are introduced and their role in the foundations of competition law is explained. Market structures of perfect competition, monopoly and oligopoly are analysed and the methods for delineating and evaluating the effects of mergers on markets are explained.

Having examined the economic context, the book then proceeds to offer an exhaustive analysis of the application of economic theory in the practice of merger regulation in Europe. Through an analysis of more than 300 competition cases the book critiques the current state of EC competition law against its economic aims, and offers views for the future development of the law. It also sets out an account of the European Commission's search for a 'more economic approach' to competition law, and analyses the policy's successes and failures.

Readership: Competition lawyers and policy makers; academics researching competition law and economics.