SluitenHelpPrint
Switch to English
Cursus: RGMUIER323
RGMUIER323
Capita Selecta Law and Economics: The Government as a Competitor: a Law and Economics Perspective
Cursus informatie
CursuscodeRGMUIER323
Studiepunten (EC)2,5
Cursusdoelen
After this course:
  • The student get introduced to the phenomenon of competitive conduct by public entities
  • The student cam explore the possible effects of such competitive conduct on markets;
  • The student will familiarize themselves with the legal regimes pertaining to competitive conduct by public entities in various EU member states;
  • The student can set up an independent research project similar to private practice;
  • The student will get acquainted with comparative legal research.
Inhoud
Governments traditionally raise revenue through taxation. However, recently public entities have found novel revenue streams by offering products or services on markets. Think of a forestry service commercially selling biomass, a government forensics institute selling DNA tests to citizens and a foreign affairs ministry offering paid language classes. In all these examples public entities compete with private firms.
 
Public entities can enjoy competitive advantages over private competitors: they tend to be protected against bankruptcy and hostile takeovers and can benefit from cross-subsidies. Consequently, many European Member Stats have regulated commercial conduct by public entities in a variety of ways.
 
This course will be a collaborative comparative legal research project. Students will critically analyze the legal regime pertaining to commercial conduct of public entities in an EU Member State of their choice. As a group, we will assess the pros and cons of the various legal regimes and establish optimal and suboptimal approaches.
Blockchain is a technology allowing the creation of digitized, decentralized and public ledgers. Above all, blockchain creates trust. The technology is already used across the Globe, whether it is through Bitcoin and crypto-currencies, exchange of electricity between private citizens, in refugee camps, or to provide alternatives to Facebook, Twitter, Google, Airbnb, Uber, Amazon and so on. In short, the technology is changing the way markets function which brings new challenges to competition law. The latter may indeed become ineffective and if this technology is misunderstood and poorly regulated, blockchain will be hampered. For these reasons, the challenges at stake are significant (to say the least).
 
This course – a world first - will help the students to understand how blockchain functions (no technical background is needed) and why it could be a real game changer as Internet has been. All major concepts of competition law – substantial, procedural and philosophical – will then be revisited in the light of this technology. Following this theoretical part, the students will have to write their own article on the topic. They will then present it to the class following “international conference” standards and will make it available to the world (this, only if they wish of course).

General information

In period 3, students are presented with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and specialize within the areas of Law and Economics they are most interested in. Period 3 is divided into 3 blocks of three weeks each. Students will follow 5 modules, which they will be able to select from a range of options available. Law and Economics capita selecta is designed in a way to allow students to immerse themselves in themes of ‘Competition Law and Regulation’, ‘Law and Finance’ and ‘Law and Technology’, though students are free to combine their interests.
 
The sixth module, which is compulsory, regards the Research and Thesis Trajectory (RTT), which is a course starting in period 1. This module is completed throughout the academic year and ends before starting to write the thesis in period 4. One week in period 3 is dedicated to the RTT and no capita selecta teaching is scheduled for that time. Each of the modules equals 2,5 ECTS.
 
Capita selecta modules allow students to develop knowledge and skills that are necessary to prepare them for a professional career. Thus, modules range in testing methods, often including practical assessments on highly relevant contemporary issues. For example, students might have to write a position paper, a case note, a blog, a policy advice paper or be tested on the basis of a presentation.


SluitenHelpPrint
Switch to English