Mannheim Competition Policy Forum (MCPF)

The last couple of years have seen a remarkable increase in the application of economic insights to competition problems. In order to further promote and refine this development, practitioners need to understand how microeconomics can help to shed light on particular aspects of competition problems. At the same time, academics benefit from a better understanding of real-world challenges and institutional details.

The forum aims at providing a platform for the discussion of recent cases, general competition policy issues, and relevant academic research in the field. Renowned practitioners and academics will be invited to present their views on cases and general policy questions, followed by a discussion of the economic implications with the audience.

Starting from the autumn semester 2017, the MCPF is an official part of two master's programmes at the University of Mannheim. Participation is compulsory for economics students in the competition and regulation track and for law students in the master on competition and regulation law.

Organisation

The MCPF is organised by Professor Martin Peitz and Professor Jens-Uwe Franck.

Dates

The series typically takes place on about six Thursdays during term. Presentations start at 5.15 p.m. and last for up to one hour including questions. Afterwards, most participants stay for further informal discussions. Presenters, dates, locations and topics are provided in the schedule below.

Location

University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5 unless otherwise specified. This is the building of the economics department, entrance vis-à-vis ZEW, in the basement to the right.

Upcoming Events

08.05.2025

The Digital Markets Act in the Spotlight: The “Pay or Consent” Debate Over Meta in View of the European Commission’s Practice

Speaker: Luigi Malferrari (European Commission and Fellow at European University Institute)

Location: University of Mannheim, Room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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Past Events

03.04.2025

Competition Policy in Regulated Industries

Speaker: Griet Jans (Belgian Competition Authority)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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27.03.2025

Evidentiary Value of Economic and Econometric Evidence in Civil Litigation

Speaker: Kai Brauneisen (Mannheim Regional Court)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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20.03.2025

MCPF as Part of the MaCCI Annual Conference 2025

Title: Towards the End of the Ordoliberal Compact in EU Competition Law?

Speaker: Pablo Ibáñez Colomo (London School of Economics)

Location: ZEW, L7,1, 68161 Mannheim, Germany

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13.03.2025

Efficiency Arguments in Horizontal Mobile Telecommunications Mergers: The Case of Vodafone UK/Three UK

Speaker: Jasper Haller (Compass Lexecon)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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13.02.2025

Towards an Effective Use of Economics in the Enforcement of Article 102 TFEU to Exclusionary Abuse of Dominance

Speaker: Anastasia Shchepetova (Oxera Consulting LLP, Paris)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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07.11.2024

Antitrust Damages Actions against Digital Gatekeepers – An Economist's View

Speaker: Steffen Sirries (Lademann & Associates GmbH, Hamburg)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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31.10.2024

Antitrust Damages Actions against Digital Gatekeepers

Speaker: Damien Geradin (Geradin Partners, Brussels)

Location: Online

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17.10.2024

The 'Failing Firm Defence' in Merger Control

Speaker: Chrysovalantou (Valanta) Milliou (Hellenic Competition Authority, Athens)

Location: Online

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26.09.2024

Disparagement Abuses in the Pharmaceutical Sector

Speaker: Romain Bizet (CRA International (Charles River Associates), Paris)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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12.09.2024

The Planned Merger of Synopsys and Ansys

Speaker: Georg Böttcher (Siemens AG, Munich)

Location: University of Mannheim, room S 031, in L7, 3-5

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