In this study prepared for the European Commission Lear proposes a methodology for the ex-post assessment of merger control decisions. The aim of the methodology is to establish whether the market structure arising from the decision protects social welfare better than the market structures that could have arisen from alternative decisions. The methodology also assesses whether the underlying economic analysis is correct and complete. The study then applies the proposed approach to the EU decision on the Pirelli and BICC merger.
Published by the European Commission (February 2007)