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ECON42580

Academic Year 2026/2027

Economics of CompetitionPolicy (ECON42580)

Subject:
Economics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Economics
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ciara Whelan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The purpose of this module is to provide students with a rigorous understanding of the economic foundations of competition policy and its role in regulating firm behaviour in markets. The module develops the economic reasoning and analytical tools used to assess market power, collusion, mergers, vertical restraints, and other competition policy concerns, and examines how these tools inform competition policy enforcement in practice. Through the application of economic models, policy frameworks, and relevant cases, students develop the ability to analyse competition policy issues and to evaluate their implications for consumer welfare, economic efficiency, and sustainability-related considerations in evolving market contexts.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should have:
1. An understanding of the economic rationale for, and objectives of, competition policy, and the role of competition policy in promoting consumer welfare and economic efficiency.
2. An ability to apply economic theory and analytical tools to examine competition issues arising in markets, including issues related to market power, collusion, mergers, and vertical restraints.
3. Well-developed analytical and critical thinking skills in the evaluation of competition policy issues and the economic reasoning underpinning competition policy enforcement.

Indicative Module Content:

- The economic rationale for competition policy and its objectives
- Economic frameworks for analysing competition and firm behaviour
- Market definition and the assessment of market power
- Collusion and coordinated behaviour in markets
- Abuse of Dominance
- Horizontal mergers, including unilateral and coordinated effects, efficiency considerations, and remedies
- Vertical restraints and vertical integration
- Competition policy challenges in dynamic markets, including issues related to innovation and sustainability

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

122

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is delivered through face-to-face in-person lectures, with an emphasis on developing students’ critical thinking and analytical skills in competition policy. Teaching focuses on the application of economic theory and analytical tools to competition policy issues, supported by illustrative examples and case material.

Use of AI:
AI tools may be used for limited purposes such as background research or language editing, but not to generate substantive analytical content. Any use of AI must be acknowledged in an 'AI Statement', and students remain fully responsible for the content and academic integrity of their work.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): An applied written assignment assessing students’ ability to use economic theory and analytical tools to analyse competition policy issues. Week 7 Graded No
20
 No
Exam (In-person): Final written exam. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
80
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback provided to students post assignments


Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 15:50
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