One of the main and most controversial issues in competition policy is
that of merger control. Work by academic researchers and practitioners
during the last decades has resulted in laying a theoretical foundation
for merger control and some practical applications for it have been
developed, but many questions surrounding the concept remain to be
answered. For example, what kinds of mergers are so harmful that they
need to be prohibited by the state? Ulrich Kirschner starts with a brief
overview of the different effects a merger can have and then continues
with a detailed exploration of practical assessment approaches. The work
focuses on applied empirical methods, commonly used measures based on
market structure, and on barriers to entry, setting out the advantages
and disadvantages of each type of approach used for merger assessment.
The concluding chapter deals with the specifics, and possible
consequences, of the current European Competition Policy. The book,
which is designed for the academic researcher and interested students,
is a welcome contribution to the lively and important debate surrounding
the vital topic of merger control in this age of globalization.