This course will provide a broad understanding of the economic principles of government intervention in markets. The topics to be covered are competition policy, regulation, and privatisation. Beginning with a brief overview of the theory of market structure, the study of competition policy will focus on mergers, collusion and access pricing. The standard issues of regulatory price setting will be covered, including modern theories relating to imperfect information. Finally the costs and benefits of privatisation and contracting out will be explored. The aim of the course is to introduce new microeconomic theory and techniques relating to competition policy and to demonstrate how that theory can be used in practical, policy relevant analysis. Current issues in Australian microeconomic reform will be analysed using the acquired skills.

Two lectures per week and one tutorial per week.

ECON2101/2111 Microeconomics 2 (P or H).

See Course Website:  http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECON2010

See Course Website:  http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECON2010

See Course Website:  http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECON2010

For further information please refer to http://ecocomm.anu.edu.au/courses/course.asp?code=ECON2010