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    Overview

    A study of the law and economic theory relating to anti-competitive business practices. Selected topics include cartels, monopolies and mergers.

    Competition Law (also called Antitrust Law) is concerned with efforts by traders to restrict competition at the expense of rivals, consumers and society at large. The law in this field is found in the Commerce Act 1986, as amplified by decisions of the Commerce Commission and the Courts. This paper examines the economic effects and legality of anticompetitive practices, such as cartels, joint ventures, resale price maintenance, exclusive dealing and bundling, tying, exclusive distribution and monopolisation. Mergers will also be covered, as will the exemption ("authorisation") process. Economics and political economy play a significant role in this course but both are confined to an elementary level.

    About this paper

    Paper title Competition Law
    Subject Law
    EFTS 0.1
    Points 15 points
    Teaching period Semester 2 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $730.20
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    96 LAWS points
    Pre or Corequisite
    Any 200-level LAWS paper not already passed
    Limited to
    LLB, LLB(Hons)
    Notes
    Not all optional papers will be available in any given year.
    Contact
    law@otago.ac.nz
    Teaching staff

    Associate Professor Edward Willis

    Textbooks

    Rex Ahdar The Evolution of Competition Law in New Zealand (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2020).

    Chris Noonan Competition Law in New Zealand (Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2017).

    (available via eReserve)

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Environmental literacy, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    For students entering commercial practice, this paper provides valuable knowledge of the economic effects and legality of anticompetitive practices, such as:

    • cartels
    • co-ordinated conduct
    • monopolisation
    • mergers
    • economic regulation
    • Commerce Commission processes

    Timetable

    Semester 2

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    A1 Monday 14:00-14:50 29-35, 37-42
    Wednesday 14:00-14:50 29-35, 37-42
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