Economics now plays a prominent role in competition law. The definition of the relevant market, the assessment of dominance and its abuse, together with the appraisal of restrictive agreements, all require explicit economic analysis.

Experience has shown that detailed analysis of even apparently straightforward competition issues can yield unexpected answers.

CASE economists use rigorous economic and quantitative techniques to address critical issues and marshall evidence to define relevant markets, respond to allegations of abuse of dominance and anticompetitive practices as well as identifying potential remedies.

CASE economists have undertaken work in all the major areas of EU antitrust – abuse of dominance, restrictions on competition, State Aid as well as market investigations.

CASE economists have prepared expert reports and given expert evidence in proceedings before the European Commission and agencies and courts in the UK, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Australia, and New Zealand.

Recent competition assignments undertaken by CASE economists have covered:

• definition of relevant product and geographical markets
• market power and concentration analyses
• indirect constraints and ‘leveraged’ dominance
• joint/collective dominance
• abuse of dominance
• refusal to supply and essential facilities
• access to essential facilities
• excessive pricing
• price discrimination and discounts
• FRAND prices and royalties
• joint cost allocation and predatory pricing
• bundling
• after-markets
• contract pricing and restrictive agreements
• distribution agreements
• evaluation of administered contracts
• network membership rules
• network access arrangements and pricing
• Article 81(3) efficiency assessments
• unbundling and retail competition
• network sharing proposals
• State aid