Read what we write
Our economists publish research papers, write notes and make presentations on projects we have worked on. Have a look to our publications below:
Filter by:
30 April 2021 - Research Papers
, #falseallegations, #judicialerrors, #standardproof, #whistleblowers
Whistleblower rewards, false reports, and corporate fraud
It is often claimed that rewards for whistleblowers lead to fraudulent reports, but for several US programs this has not been a major problem. We model the interaction between rewards for whistleblowers, sanctions against fraudulent reporting, judicial errors, and standards of proof in the court case on a whistleblower’s allegations and the possible follow-up for […] Read more
7 April 2021 - Lear Competition Notes
, Competition Economics, Mergers
The mode of competition: where to start and when you stop in merger analysis
“The best way to begin an economic analysis is to ask a relevant question. In a merger analysis the relevant question is: will the post-merger new entity have the ability and the incentive to exert a higher market power? But which analyses are best suited to answer these questions? This note argues that the best […] Read more
10 February 2021 - Research Papers
, Cartels, Competition Economics, Damages, Leniency, private enforcement, public enforcement
Leniency and Damages: Where Is the Conflict?
Damage actions may reduce leniency programs’ attractiveness for cartel participants if their cooperation with the competition authority increases the chance that the cartel’s victims will sue them. This apparent conflict between public and private antitrust enforcement led to calls for a legal compromise. We show that the conflict is due to the legislation, and a […] Read more
1 August 2020 - Research Papers
, Competition Policy, Digitalmarkets, Mergers
Merger Policy in Digital Markets: An Ex Post Assessment
This paper presents a broad retrospective evaluation of mergers and merger decisions in markets dominated by multisided digital platforms. First, we document almost 300 acquisitions carried out by three major tech companies—Amazon, Facebook, and Google—between 2008 and 2018. We cluster target companies on their area of economic activity providing suggestive evidence on the strategies behind […] Read more
8 June 2020 - Articles
, Antitrust, Competition Policy, Mergers
EX POST ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF COMPETITION POLICY: THE EU EXPERIENCE
The publication contributes to a better knowledge of the economic impact of this policy, which is essential for the good functioning of the internal market in the European Union. Competition authorities are increasingly interested in understanding the impact of their activities on markets and consumers. The goal is to improve competition policy rules and decision-making […] Read more
17 September 2019 - Articles
, #fakenews, Damages
Marca, Internet e contrasto alla disinformazione
The publication, issued by Centromarca, the Italian Brand Industry Association, provides insights on how the image of a company and its brands can be damaged by unfounded news, fake news. The manual provides useful tips for the management of reputational issues, legal aspects and property damage.
3 June 2019 - Research Papers
, Digitalmarkets, Mergers, Policy evaluation
Ex-post Assessment of Merger Control Decisions in Digital Markets
The Competition and Markets Authority appointed Lear to carry out a study aimed at looking at four past merger decisions in the digital sector taken by the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission (jointly, the “Authorities”). The objective of the study was threefold: ▪ review merger cases undertaken by Competition Authorities and the […] Read more
Sign up