Keywords
merger control, product market, asymmetric definition, grocery retailing
Abstract
This article assesses whether there is a convergence in the approach of the EU and national competition authorities (NCAs) in how they define product markets for the purpose of merger control. The hypothesis of such convergence is tested in the sector of sales of groceries in large retail stores. The analysis of decisions issued by various European NCAs shows that some have adopted an asymmetric market definition: from the perspective of supermarkets and discount stores hypermarkets form part of the same product market, whilst hypermarkets are not constrained by supermarkets and discount stores. Conversely, there are also some NCAs that consider all three types of large retail stores as competitors and thus forming part of the same product market. These different conclusions do not seem to correspond to the inherent differences in the structure of competition on particular national markets. As a result, the initial hypothesis cannot be confirmed. The Authors therefore call for a more intense cooperation between NCAs in order to establish best practices when defining product markets for the purpose of merger control.
Recommended Citation
Dudzik, S., & Tombiński, A. (2014). Defining product markets in order to assess concentrations of large retail store chains. Towards a convergence of national and EU approaches?. internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny (internet Quarterly on Antitrust and Regulation), 3(6), 8-21. Retrieved from https://press.wz.uw.edu.pl/ikar/vol3/iss6/1
First Page
8
Last Page
21
Page Count
13
Publisher
University of Warsaw
