The 2027 Competition Agency Leaders Executive Programme (CALEP) will take place from July 2 to July 6, 2027. Venue Hotel: MINOA PALACE RESORT, Chania, Crete.

A Special Keynote Lecture will also take place during the Course.

The teaching method is by two academic hour sessions.

Ιn total, the Course will be 20 sessions and one Special Lectures or 42 academic hours (1 academic hour = 50 minutes). Sessions are largely self-contained so participants can select to attend a subset or all of the sessions.

SESSION 1: The Role of Economics and Review of Fundamental Economic Concepts I by Prof. Thomas Ross (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia).

The importance and effects of Competition Policy. Dimensions of competition – price, quality, variety, innovation. Types of competition – static vs. dynamic. Economic objectives of competition law. The use of the error-cost framework; the advantages (and disadvantages) of an economics-based approach. Demand, cost concepts, supply, profit maximisation. The notion of equilibrium.

SESSION 2: The Role of Economics and Review of Fundamental Economic Concepts II by Prof. Thomas Ross (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia).

Types of markets: perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, oligopoly. The Lerner index and the measurement of market power. The concept of market structure and its measurement.

SESSION 3: HR management issues, developing talent and career development by Prof. Nancy Papalexandris (Athens University of Economics and Business)

Career and talent development is a critical challenge for HR professionals as it is essential for sustaining organizations and giving each individual within the organization a meaningful focus for the future. It involves career management interventions which are not necessarily a distinct HRM activity since they are related to a number of other HR processes such as recruitment, performance management and appraisals, training and development, career guidance and development assignments. It also involves the active participation of line managers who must be prepared to provide career guidance and offer development opportunities to their people. The lecture will focus on various definitions for “talent” which may vary across organizational settings, discuss the role of effective career self-management, describe and evaluate various career management practices, and stress implications for organizational change and effectiveness.

SESSION 4: Leadership and Leading Change by Dr. Maria Kakarika (Durham University Business School).  

In this session we will discuss current research ideas and practices on leadership for organizational change, presenting existing approaches and strategies for introducing, implementing, and institutionalizing change. We will highlight the importance of leadership in dealing with organizational complexity and uncertainty. The overall aim of the session is to introduce participants to the state-of-the-art thinking in leadership for organizational change and to the process of successfully communicating and balancing contrasting needs such as stability and change, and cost-cutting and growth.

SESSION 5: Market Definition and the Determinants of Market Power by Ms. Yi Ling Ng (Partner, RBB Economics).

The role of product and geographic market definition in the enforcement of competition law. Demand and supply substitution. The hypothetical monopoly test. Critical loss analysis. Shortcomings and fallacies. Legal definitions, concepts, basic economics of and measurement of “market power”. Factors that influence market power.

SESSION 6: Assessment of Mergers I by Dr. Matthew Bennett (Vice President, Charles River Associates).

Horizontal Mergers: Legal and economic framework; unilateral effects; the role of diversion ratios; merger simulation models; upward pricing pressure (UPP); coordinated effects; analysis of efficiencies. Conglomerate and vertical mergers.

SESSION 7: Assessment of Mergers I I by Dr. Matthew Bennett (Vice President, Charles River Associates).

Horizontal Mergers: Legal and economic framework; unilateral effects; the role of diversion ratios; merger simulation models; upward pricing pressure (UPP); coordinated effects; analysis of efficiencies. Conglomerate and vertical mergers.

SESSION 8: Cartels and Other Coordinated Practices by Prof. Maarten Pieter Schinkel (University of Amsterdam).

Economic theory of collusion. Tacit collusion. Different forms of collusive practices including horizontal price fixing, horizontal market sharing, restrictions in production, collusive tendering, information exchanges, bid rigging. Structural factors conducive to coordinated conduct. Facilitating factors. Detecting and discouraging cartels. The role of leniency programs.

SESSION 9: Assessment of Pricing Abuses by Dominant Firms by Prof. Frederic Jenny (Emeritus professor of economics ESSEC Business School, Fernand Braudel Fellow European University Institute (Florence))

When does foreclosure lead to competitive harm? Tests for unilateral anticompetitive abuse by dominant firms: predatory pricing, loyalty rebates, margin squeeze.

SESSION 10: Assessment of Non-Pricing Abuses by Dominant Firms by Prof. Howard Shelanski (Georgetown University).  

Refusal to sell; anticompetitive and pro-competitive exclusive dealing; anticompetitive and pro- competitive tying; bundling and bundled discounts.

SESSION 11: Assessing Economic Evidence in Courts by Prof. Frederic Jenny (Emeritus professor of economics ESSEC Business School, Fernand Braudel Fellow European University Institute (Florence)).  

The session will cover three main issues: 1) the difference between the legal and the economic approach to law enforcement; 2) the different ways to improve the understanding of economics by judges and 3) The lessons from experience on how to present complex evidence in courts.

SESSION 12: Managing the External and the Internal Environment of Competition Agencies I by Prof. William Kovacic (Director, Competition Law Center, The George Washington University).

Managing internal politics; Conflict management and building consensus. Leadership techniques; Prioritisation strategies. Streamlining of decision making processes. Dealing with budget constraints. How to be a successful chairman – the main factors behind success and the main factors behind failure. Managing human resources and developing talent.

SESSION 13: Recent Developments in Competition Law I by Prof. Ioannis Kokkoris (Director of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary University, Member, UK Competition Appeal Tribunal). 

Enforcement Priorities & Policy Developments. Article 101 TFEU Developments: Part a) Cartels (infringement decisions /settlements / appeals: mainly parental liability and standard of proof), Part b) Horizontal and Vertical Agreements. Article 102 TFEU Developments: Part a) Pending investigations, Part b) Commitment decisions, Part c) Pricing abuses. Procedural Developments: Part a) Payment of Fines, Part b) Rights of Defence Part c) Due Process, Part d) Cartel Parallel Investigations. Access to Documents & Private Damages Actions. EU Courts – New Developments. Prospects for the Year Ahead.

SESSION 14: Recent Developments in Competition Law II by Prof. Ioannis Kokkoris (Director of the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary University, Member, UK Competition Appeal Tribunal). 

Enforcement Priorities & Policy Developments. Article 101 TFEU Developments: Part a) Cartels (infringement decisions /settlements / appeals: mainly parental liability and standard of proof), Part b) Horizontal and Vertical Agreements. Article 102 TFEU Developments: Part a) Pending investigations, Part b) Commitment decisions, Part c) Pricing abuses. Procedural Developments: Part a) Payment of Fines, Part b) Rights of Defence Part c) Due Process, Part d) Cartel Parallel Investigations. Access to Documents & Private Damages Actions. EU Courts – New Developments. Prospects for the Year Ahead.

SPECIAL LECTURE: The Implications for Competition Policy of Behavioural Economics by Ms. Kathryn Fenton (Jones Day, Ret.) & Prof. William Kovacic (Director, Competition Law Center, The George Washington University).

The session examines a significant new development in competition policy. It considers the role that behavioural economics is already playing, and how this might be expected to develop going forward.

SESSION 15: Legal and Substantive Standards in Competition Law Enforcement by Prof. Yannis Katsoulacos (Athens University of Economics and Business). 

What are the appropriate substantive (or liability) standards that should be used in competition law enforcement? Protecting the Competitive Process vs. Consumer Welfare vs. Total Welfare substantive standards. The role of public interest concerns. What are the appropriate legal standards (or decision rules) that should be used in the assessment of different conducts? Per Se vs. Effects-Based legal standards. Choice criteria. Explaining the difference in legal standards in different countries.

SESSION 16: Managing the External and the Internal Environment of Competition Agencies II by Prof. William Kovacic (Director, Competition Law Center, The George Washington University)

Managing internal politics; Conflict management and building consensus. Leadership techniques; Prioritisation strategies. Streamlining of decision making processes. Dealing with budget constraints. How to be a successful chairman – the main factors behind success and the main factors behind failure. Managing human resources and developing talent.

SESSION 17: Best Practices in Conducting Market Studies by Despina Pachnou (Senior competition expert, OECD).

Market studies, as an alternative to enforcement, allow competition authorities to analyse a market and identify problems, and solutions to make it more efficient. This session describes the extensive experience the OECD has in this field, including the recent OECD paper on the similarities and differences in the use of market studies across countries and the 2018 OECD Market Studies, in the execution and design of market studies for competition authorities.

SESSION 18: New Enforcement Areas: A Focus on Labour Markets and Sustainability by Despina Pachnou (Senior competition expert, OECD).

As new societal challenges related to sustainable development emerge, many competition authorities are analysing whether their current tools and focus capture the full range of effects to ensure well-functioning efficient markets. Climate change has put into focus the limitations of short-term price effects as a proxy for long-term efficiency and has raised questions as to whether a more dynamic approach considering quality and innovation may make markets greener and more efficient. In parallel, significant empirical and academic research has put the spot-light on monopsony power in labour markets – the near mirror image of monopoly – as much more prevalent than previously believed. This session will provide insights into the work of the OECD on these two topics and discuss the experience of competition authorities in the last few years.

SESSION 19: Competition Assessment of Regulations and Competitive Neutrality by Dr. António Gomes (Deputy Director, OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs).

 Governments and competition authorities are called to regularly identify and revise policies that may unduly restrict competition. While multiple approaches exist to dealing with this challenge, the OECD Competition Assessment Toolkit is a very popular choice amongst governments, due to its holistic approach and efficacy. The OECD has also developed the Competitive Neutrality Toolkit to complement the competition assessment methodology with good practices to promote a level playing field. This session will illustrate the two Toolkits in detail, and explain how to draw the most benefit from its application.

SESSION 20: Competition and AI by Dr. António Gomes (Deputy Director, OECD Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs).

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to be the latest General-Purpose Technology (GPT), so ensuring this potentially transformative technology remains competitive could be vital to ensure its benefits are realised and disseminated across economies, as well as ensuring ongoing incentives to innovate. This session will consider how competition is shaping up in AI markets and across the AI value chain. This includes potential competition issues such as access to key inputs, access to distribution and issues relating to market structure, as well as how AI partnerships may be assessed under existing competition policy frameworks. It will also explore how AI may alter dynamics of competition in other markets as firms adopt AI based solutions.