European Competition Policy

One of the main and most controversial issues in competition policy is that ofmerger control. Work by academic researchers and practitioners during thelast decades has resulted in laying a theoretical foundation for merger controland some practical applications for it have been developed but manyquestions surrounding the concept remain to be answered. For examplewhat kinds of mergers are so harmful that they need to be prohibited by thestate? Ulrich Kirschner starts with a brief overview of the different effects amerger can have and then continues with a detailed exploration of practicalassessment approaches. The work focuses on applied empirical methodscommonly used measures based on market structure and on barriers toentry setting out the advantages and disadvantages of each type ofapproach used for merger assessment. The concluding chapter deals with thespecifics and possible consequences of the current European CompetitionPolicy. The book which is designed for the academic researcher andinterested students is a welcome contribution to the lively and importantdebate surrounding the vital topic of merger control in this age ofglobalization.