Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/30086
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
MAGKS Joint Discussion Paper Series in Economics No. 2008,03
Publisher: 
Philipps-University Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Marburg
Abstract: 
Advanced economic instruments like simulation models are enjoying an increased popularity in practical antitrust. There is hope that they being quantitative predictive economic evidence can substitute for qualitative structural analysis and lead to unambiguous results. This paper demonstrates that it can be theoretically impossible to identify the most appropriate simulation model for any given merger proposal. Due to the inevitable necessity to reduce real-world complexity and multi-parameter character of merger cases, the comparative fit of proposed merger simulation models with mutually incompatible predictions can be the same. This is valid even if an ideal antitrust procedure is assumed. This insight is important regarding two aspects. First, the scope for partisan economic evidence cannot be completely eroded in merger control. Second, simulation cannot eliminate or substitute for qualitative reasoning and economically informed common sense.
Subjects: 
merger simulation
merger control
antitrust
economic evidence
JEL: 
L40
C15
K21
A11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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