This course covers competition policy and a brief introduction to the economics of regulation. We use theoretical industrial organisation models to analyse firms' competitive and anti-competitive behaviour . We will study conducts such as collusion, merger, vertical control, predation, and some other non-price monopolization practices. We will also discuss various competition policy guidelines including the ACCC merger guideline and Competition and Consumer Act 2010. In the last part of the course, we briefly introduce the theory of regulation.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the main economic theories that form the foundation of competitive policies;
- create simple models that evaluate policy interventions in markets;
- criticique decisions by courts and regulatory agencies regarding anticompetitive claims;
- comment on the welfare implications of various conducts of the firms in several different market environments;
- demonstrate a basic understanding of the theory of regulation.
Research-Led Teaching
The lecturer is an active researcher in competition policy and regulation. In addition to classic models, we will also discuss new research results and cases.
Examination Material or equipment
The final exam is delivered online through Wattle and may be invigilated via Zoom. Please ensure that you have a computer with stable internet access and a webcam.
As a further academic integrity control, students may be selected for a 15 minute individual oral examination of their written assessment submissions.
Any student identified, either during the current semester or in retrospect, as having used ghost writing services will be investigated under the University’s Academic Integrity Rule.
Recommended Resources
The main textbook is Motta Massimo (2004) Competition Policy Theory and Practice. The print version is available at the Chifley library. The book is also available online through ANU library's Cambridge Core database.
https://www-cambridge-org.virtual.anu.edu.au/core/books/competition-policy/2A8ADAF8BF5443D9CE758DE371EE2C9B
We will also use the following reference books:
Belleflamme, P. and M. Peitz (2015) Industrial Organization Markets and Strategies, Cambridge, 2nd Edition. The book is available at the Chifley library and through the library's ProQuest Ebook Central (first edition).
https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.virtual.anu.edu.au/lib/anu/detail.action?docID=542806
Church, Jeffrey and Roger Ware (2000) Industrial Organization. A strategic approach. Irwin McGraw-Hill.
The book is available freely online at
https://works.bepress.com/jeffrey_church/23
Other references will be provided as we progress in the semester.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:- Written comments
- Verbal comments
- Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.Class Schedule
| Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basic IO models | |
| 2 | Horizontal and vertical product differentiation | |
| 3 | Market definition | |
| 4 | Assessment of market power | Assessment 1 |
| 5 | Collusion | |
| 6 | Horizontal merger | |
| 7 | Vertical relations | Assessment 2 |
| 8 | Exclusive conducts Raising rivals' costs | |
| 9 | Exclusive conducts Predatory pricing | |
| 10 | Introduction to economic regulation | Assessment 3 |
| 11 | Optimal pricing for natural monopoly | |
| 12 | Review and discussion |
Tutorial Registration
Tutorials will be held weekly (starting from week 2). Tutorials will be available both on campus and via zoom. ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials. Find out more on the Timetable webpage. https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/timetabling.
Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 - 12% | 12 % | 17/03/2023 | 31/03/2023 | 1, 2, 3 |
| Assessment 2 - 12% | 12 % | 21/04/2023 | 05/05/2023 | 1, 2, 3 |
| Assessment 3 - 12% | 12 % | 12/05/2023 | 26/05/2023 | 1, 2, 3 |
| Final Examination - 64% | 64 % | * | * | 1, 2, 3 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.Participation
The lectures will be delivered face-to-face on campus (with Echo360 recording). The tutorial may be available both face-to-face and via zoom. Please note that the tutorial will not be recorded. Students are expected to read the lecture material and attempt the tutorial questions before the class to facilitate class discussion. Both the lecturer and the tutor will hold weekly office hours. Comments and questions on the Wattle discussion forum will be answered regularly.
Attendance at lectures and tutorials, while not compulsory, is expected in line with “Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning”, clause 2 paragraph (b).
Examination(s)
Examinations will conducted online through Wattle. The examinations may be supervised through Zoom.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Assessment 1 - 12%
There will be three online assessments throughout the semester. The three assessments will cover different question types: multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, problem sets and/or longer essay type questions. The assessments will take place in weeks 4, 7, and 10. Each assessment will be open for roughly 3 days. Some assessments may have two parts: a quiz part and an assignment part. For the quiz part, once started, students need to complete it within a timeframe (typically 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the number of questions). Furthermore, only one attempt is permitted, and students can only navigate forward in the quiz. For the assignment part, students need to upload their answers into the Wattle before the due time. More detailed instructions will be available one week before the assessment due dates. No late submissions will be accepted. These assessments are not redeemable. If a student misses an assessment for a legitimate reason, the assessment weight will be shifted to the final exam. Assessment answers will be published shortly after the due time. We will discuss the answers in the lecture and tutorial. An assessment example will be available on Wattle by week 3.
Assessment 1 will be available to students on week 4 Tuesday and will be open till week 4 Friday.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Assessment 2 - 12%
There will be three online assessments throughout the semester. The three assessments will cover different question types: multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, problem sets and/or longer essay type questions. The assessments will take place in weeks 4, 7, and 10. Each assessment will be open for roughly 3 days. Some assessments may have two parts: a quiz part and an assignment part. For the quiz part, once started, students need to complete it within a timeframe (typically 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the number of questions). Furthermore, only one attempt is permitted, and students can only navigate forward in the quiz. For the assignment part, students need to upload their answers into the Wattle before the due time. More detailed instructions will be available one week before the assessment due dates. No late submissions will be accepted. These assessments are not redeemable. If a student misses an assessment for a legitimate reason, the assessment weight will be shifted to the final exam. Assessment answers will be published shortly after the due time. We will discuss the answers in the lecture and tutorial. An assessment example will be available on Wattle by week 3.
Assessment 2 will be available to students on week 7 Tuesday and will be open till week 7 Friday.
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Assessment 3 - 12%
There will be three online assessments throughout the semester. The three assessments will cover different question types: multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, problem sets and/or longer essay type questions. The assessments will take place in weeks 4, 7, and 10. Each assessment will be open for roughly 3 days. Some assessments may have two parts: a quiz part and an assignment part. For the quiz part, once started, students need to complete it within a timeframe (typically 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the number of questions). Furthermore, only one attempt is permitted, and students can only navigate forward in the quiz. For the assignment part, students need to upload their answers into the Wattle before the due time. More detailed instructions will be available one week before the assessment due dates. No late submissions will be accepted. These assessments are not redeemable. If a student misses an assessment for a legitimate reason, the assessment weight will be shifted to the final exam. Assessment answers will be published shortly after the due time. We will discuss the answers in the lecture and tutorial. An assessment example will be available on Wattle by week 3.
Assessment 3 will be available to students on week 10 Tuesday and will be open till week 10 Friday.
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3
Final Examination - 64%
The final exam will be scheduled during the end-of-semester examination period. This final exam will be administered through Wattle and may be supervised via Zoom. The total time duration is 180 minutes. The final exam will consist of multiple-choice questions, numerical questions, and/or problem sets. For problem-set type questions, students need to upload handwritten and scanned answers. Students would have been familiar with the question types and submission process after the assessments during the semester. The final exam will be comprehensive and will cover all the topics discussed during the semester. The final exam is open book. More details on the final exam will be available in week 10.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.Online Submission
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.Late Submission
Late submission is not permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date/time, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.Returning Assignments
The original submitted assignment, and any relevant feedback comments, will be made available on the Course Wattle Site.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Research InterestsIndustrial Organisation, competition policy, regulation |
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Dr Tina Kao
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Instructor
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Research Interests |
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Dr Tina Kao
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