Article 102 Reform
In August 2024, the European Commission published draft guidelines for consultation on exclusionary abuse under Article 102. The guidelines aim to reflect latest developments in jurisprudence and increase legal certainty. Oxera responded to the consultation which closed on 31 October 2024. The response highlights areas where improvements could be made… Read More
Demystifying private equity
What is private equity? What do PE firms do, how do they make their money, and why do companies seek out private equity investment? The term private equity often conjures up images of exclusive deals, high stakes investment, and elite financial circles but plenty of companies use it successfully to… Read More
Spatial planning: the good, the bad and the needy
Unbalanced regional development is a common economic concern. It arises from ‘clustering’ of companies and resources, compounded by higher benefit-to-cost ratios for infrastructure projects in well developed regions. Government efforts to redress this balance have had mixed success. Dr Rupert Booth, Senior Adviser, proposes a practical programme to develop… Read More
Sustainable Divergence between the UK and the EU—the Fair Share Principle in Practice
As sustainability continues to grow in importance for businesses, regulators are starting to provide guidance on how competition law applies to ‘green agreements’. In our recent article, written alongside Linklaters, we examine how the European Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are shaping their frameworks to account… Read More
Is dynamic pricing an ambush or advantage for consumers?
The debate as to whether or when dynamic pricing is fair and reasonable continues, and there are even calls for it be banned. Dynamic pricing has been in the news recently, with backlash from fans trying to secure a ticket to see Oasis in concert. You will have experienced dynamic… Read More
Reducing or removing CO2 emissions: Can offsets make the difference?
As countries and corporates focus on reducing emissions in line with European net zero targets up to 2050, in this article, Oxera Partner Sir Philip Lowe examines the use of offsets, particularly in hard-to-abate segments of the economy. Oxera’s research on… Read More
How can economics help governments decide how to spend scarce public funds?
In the UK, and across Europe, there are many public-funded areas crying out for more investment. However, the context of low growth, high levels of public debt and public interest payments, mean that tough decisions on spending priorities across public services, infrastructure and social security have to be made. In… Read More
Assessing the financial regulation of European football clubs
The roar of the crowd, the thrill of the game—football is a global phenomenon. With rising TV audiences and lucrative commercial deals, it has become big business. Money has surged into the game and changed the incentives for clubs, their executives and owners. So, what needs to be done to… Read More
Play forward
Shaping football’s sustainable future Play Forward is a series of reports focused on building a fair, sustainable, and successful global football industry. Economics is at the centre of finding a solution and securing the future objectives of the industry. From football financing to competitive balance, economics sets frameworks to assess… Read More
Revenue stream(ing): how the economics of the music industry is changing
Streaming is bringing more access, more music and more flexibility for the listener, but at what cost? The face of music has changed dramatically in the last 15 years. Technology shifts mean that distribution methods have changed, with cassette tapes and CDs consigned to history’s scrap heap. Streaming has fundamentally… Read More