Annual CRA Brussels Conference 2023

Rising concentration, rising profits, rising prices – and decreasing costs. Disentangling the root causes of recent paradigm shifts in applied competition policy, this panel discusses the latest insights into the drivers of increasing concentration and profits. Can we identify the boundaries between efficient and harmful concentration? How much of it is to blame for Europe’s cost-of-living crisis – and what tools do Authorities have to tame it (beyond merger control)? The panel will discuss recent experiences in detecting collusion, preventing public price announcements, price and pass-on controls, and blaming and shaming along the (food) supply chain. 

We’ve entered the most important phase of digital regulation: concrete application. We can think of digital regulation like AI. Both have expanded fast in recent years and have huge potential, but they require training and their full effects are yet to be seen. Both are built on a projection of past data and previous experiences, but their true value depends on how we use them in the future and for what ultimate objective. Both come in two phases: design and application.

Many regulatory tools have been designed in Europe – now comes the time of practical application. A lot of learning by doing is underway. A panel of top enforcers and academics will discuss first experiences and what to expect next.