UEA

Morten Hviid interviewed for TV and radio on the UK Care Home Market

CCP faculty member and Professor in the UEA Law School interviewed about new research, co-authored by Ruth Hancock, into the price of UK care home places.

Morten Hviid was interviewed by BBC Look East discussing the new research, that suggests that by using their buyer power, local authorities could be driving up the cost of privately funded care home places and forces other homes out of the market. The interviewed was also featured on BBC Radio Norfolk, Radio Camrbidgeshire and Radio Essex, as well as appearing in the Eastern Daily Press and Community Care website.

CCP at UNCTAD's Research Partnership Platform's first meeting and 6th UN Review Conference in Geneva

UNCTADs Research Partnership Platform (RPP) links CCP with twenty-four other research institutes around the world. The purpose of the platform is to establish an inter-disciplinary research network on competition and consumer protection policies, with a particular emphasis on development.

The first meeting provided an opportunity to discuss possible research themes under the RPP and to network with other academics involved in the initiative. Following the first meeting of the RPP, Dr Andreas Stephan was invited to observe the 6th UN Review Conference on Competition in Geneva. The conference marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Set on Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices. It reflected the wide proliferation of competition policy internationally and the enthusiasm with which countless governments are embracing its principles.  

Catherine Waddams participates in radio interview and quoted in national media

CCP director speaks about Government's decision to axe over 100 quangos. Catherine Waddams was quoted in the Guardian discussing the Government's decision to axe over 100 quangos, including Consumer Focus. For link to article click here

Professor Waddams was also interviewed by Moneybox for her views' on what the abolition of these quangos will mean for consumers. To download the podcast visit the Moneybox website

Graham Loomes elected to British Academy

Professor Graham Loomes has been elected as a fellow of the UK's national body for humanities and social sciences. The annually elected fellows consist of UK-based scholars who have achieved distinction in the field of humanities and social science, and only a small number of fellows are elected. For more information on the British Academy click here

CCP member carries out report on price guarantees for Ofcom

Professor Morten Hviid was commissioned by Ofcom to provide consultation on price guarantees. The literature review which was published on 9th September and is available here is used in Ofcom's strategic review of consumer switching which can be found on their pages here Professor Hviid's most recent paper with Professor Greg Shaffer has just been published in Journal of Industrial Economics  

CCP hosts UEA London seminar

CCP has announced it is hosting a seminar What has Competition Policy ever done for me? to discuss how action in competition policy has benefitted citizens.

The seminar, which launches a series of SSF talks, held throughout the autumn, to promote the facultys research strengths, will take place at UEA London on 22nd September.

At the CCP seminar, Centre member Hussein Kassim (PSI) will discuss Air Transport and the European Union: How Brussels freed the skies, Michael Harker (Law) will present Content is King: BSkyB, Ofcom and the FA Premier League and Andreas Stephan (Law) will talk on antitrust regulation, Theft by Well Dressed Thieves? Thomas Sharpe QC One Essex Court and a member of the CCP Advisory Board, will also speak on "Costs and benefits of Competition Policy: some problems with official enforcement". The event will take place at 6-7.30pm. For more information on the event click here For more information on UEA London click here

The CCP is now part of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Research Partnership Platform, linking it with twenty-four other research institutes around the world. The purpose of the platform is to establish an inter-disciplinary research network on competition and consumer protection policies, with a particular emphasis on development. For more information on the network click here

Daniel Zizzo wins Arrow Prize

CCP faculty member Daniel Zizzo has been awarded Arrow Prize for Senior Economists

Daniel was confirmed as the winner of the The Kenneth J. Arrow Prize for Senior Economists for his paper with Gordon Douglas Menzies. For more information click here

 Leading US Antitrust Professor visits CCP

The Centre for Competition Policy is delighted to welcome Professor Andrew I Gavil (Howard University, School of Law) as a visiting Professor.During his stay, Professor Gavil will deliver a number of master class lectures to members of the CCP, including Faculty and postgraduate students of Norwich Law School. Andrew has written, lectured, and commented extensively in the US and abroad on various aspects of antitrust law, jurisdiction, and procedure. Having Andrew around for an extended period will enable researchers at CCP draw further comparative insights into their work on competition law and policy.

For more information on Professor Gavil click here

 CCP faculty named among Top Female Antitrust Professors

CCP Director Professor Catherine Waddams and faculty member Dr Pinar Akman have both been identified by Antitrust & Competition Policy Blog as among the Top Female Antitrust Economics and Law Professors.

In a list dominated by American Ivy League universities, Professor Waddams is the only British and one of only four European academic women antitrust economists in the global Top 20.  Dr Akman is one of three Europeans in the global Top 10 up and coming women academic lawyers.

The list was posted by Professor Daniel Sokol from the University of Florida and editor of this highly regarded blog. To view the whole list click here

Bruce Lyons on panel for BIS conference

Professor Lyons was a member of the expert panel at a full day Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) conference on 12th March. The aim was to advise on their economic and social research strategy so that it could appropriately inform government policy.

Andreas Stephan joins BIS advisory panel

Dr Andreas Stephan of Norwich Law School and CCP has been invited to sit on a new academic advisory panel created by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The panel will act as a discussion forum, advisory BIS on economic policy. It has been created to help the department better understand the latest academic research and advice on economic and social developments and policy.

Andreas Stephan quoted in international media

Andreas Stephan was widely quoted in the media following the announcement from the OFT that the Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to pay a fine of £28.6m for price-fixing after it shared confidential information with Barclays.

RBS Pays, and Barclays Walks, in Loan Case (The Wall Street Journal), RBS Fined for Breaching UK Competition Law (Reuters), RBS Hit by £28.6m Fine in Loan Price-Fixing Scandal (Daily Express)

 Bruce Lyons advice on competition and cooperation in the NHS

The efficient organisation and delivery of health services is crucial to patient welfare, but is this best achieved by competition and cooperation? Professor Bruce Lyons has been appointed part-time to the Economics Reference Group which advises the Cooperation and Competition Panel of the NHS on how to draw the line.

The panel helps support the delivery to patients and taxpayers of the benefits of competition. It does this by investigating and advising the Department of Health on matters such as mergers and joint ventures between NHS Trusts, or possible restructions in choice due to relationships between providers and commissioners of NHS services. For more information on the panel click here.

CCP hosts joint London Conference

The issue of Competition in Public Policy was discussed by over a hundred policy makers, practitioners and academics at a joint conference hosted by the ESRC Centre for Competition Policy and the Regulatory Policy Institute, based at Oxford University, on 8th March in London.

Distinguished contributors included the Chair of the UK Competition Commission Peter Freeman, the CEO of the Office of Fair Trading John Fingleton and the chief economists from the EC Competition Directive and the Antitrust Division of the US Dept. of Justice. Catherine Waddams also discussed 'Competition and Consumer Protection in Retail Energy Markets'.

For more information from the day and to view the presentation slides click here.

Pinar Akman quoted in national newspaper

Dr Pinar Akman was quoted in the Guardian discussing the struggle of independent DVD stores against Blockbuster.

For link to article Why Blockbuster's Studio ties leave independent DVD stores struggling click here.

CCP Professor carries out independent review for OFT

Professor Steve Davies was commissioned by the OFT to carry out an independent review of its impact estimation methodologies.

The report was published in January 2010 and assesses the methodologies applied to each area of the OFT's work and suggests possible modifications. Click here to read the review and here for the OFT response.

The Role of Competition in Public Policy: RPI and CCP joint conference

The Centre for Competition Policy and the Regulatory Policy Institute is hosting a joint conference on 8th March at One Great George Street London. Speakers included Peter Freeman, Chairman of the Competition Commission, Professor Carl Shapiro, Chief Economist, US Dept of Justice, Antitrust Division, John Fingleton, CEO, Office of Fair Trading and Centre Director Professor Catherine Waddams.  

 CCP 6th annual conference

Dates and venue have been announced for CCP's summer conference.

This year's summer conference will be held on 17th and 18th June 2010, in the UEA Drama Studio. The theme will be Vertical Restraints, and will look broadly at the subject, particularly how improved economic understanding can be translated into enforcement reality. More information, including how to book, will be on the website early 2010. Alternatively you can email the Communications Coordinator or call 01603 591616.