When State aid overlaps with market based mechanisms: an example from energy markets

The Lear Competition Note (LCN) discusses the existing literature on the interaction between State aid intervention that incentivizes the investment in decarbonisation technologies and the market-based mechanism relying on the European Union Emission Trading System (ETS). Now in its fourth phase, the EU ETS is often considered the most effective policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Lear Competition Note is available here
Read more on our engagments here 

Survey of European regional airports

Lear, in consortium with DIW and Sheppard Mullin, has successfully engaged more than fifty regional airports across twelve different European Union’s Member States in a survey-based dialogue. The cooperation of National and International Associations of Airports has been key to extend the reach of the survey, as small airports often have little resources to devote to extraordinary activities. Continue reading Survey of European regional airports

LEARTALK DIGITAL MARKETS – PRESENTATION OF THE STUDY

Lear economists discussed, together with practitioners from the private and public sector and academics, on the relevant economic features of digital markets and the challenges they present for merger control.

The presentation (in Italian) is available here

The report on Evaluation of past merger decisions in the UK digital sector is online

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has appointed Lear to carry out a study looking at 4 past merger decisions in the technology sector taken by the Office of Fair Trading, including the Facebook/Instagram and Google/Waze decisions.

The study investigates:

  • the potential competition theories of harm to be assessed when evaluating mergers in digital sectors;
  • whether the assessment in 4 digital merger clearance decisions was reasonable based on the evidence available at the time;
  • whether the outcome of the decision has been detrimental to consumers based on the market evolution following the mergers.

The main findings of the study will be presented during the LEARtalk Digital Markets in Rome on June 13th.

The report is available  here
More info on the LEAR talk Digital Markets  here