Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law

Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prohibits abuse of a dominant position by one or more undertakings within the common market. One of abuse forms being especially difficult to prove is predatory pricing. This paper attempts to find parameters to be helpful in dist...

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Main Author: Ana Pošćić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu 2012-01-01
Series:Zbornik Radova Pravnog Fakulteta u Splitu
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/129210
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author Ana Pošćić
author_facet Ana Pošćić
author_sort Ana Pošćić
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description Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prohibits abuse of a dominant position by one or more undertakings within the common market. One of abuse forms being especially difficult to prove is predatory pricing. This paper attempts to find parameters to be helpful in distinguishing normal competition where undertakings with their better products and products of higher quality squeeze out competitors from predatory behaviour situations. To differentiate acceptable from illicit behaviours the so-called AKZO test is applied under which a predatory price is determined by cost analysis assuming that the prices below average variable costs are predatory prices. Prices above average variable costs but below average total costs will not be predatory prices, unless they are a part of a policy of elimination of competition. Therefore, the relation between price and costs will be taken into consideration, where, under certain circumstances, it will be supplemented with test of intention. Although opinions that the AKZO test should be combined with the recoupment test appear in the doctrine, it seems that the test based on costs is still sufficient by taking into account the strategies and behaviours of undertakings.
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spelling doaj.art-4c44a636df5c4c389986e81b08402b202023-12-02T10:55:23ZengPravni fakultet Sveučilišta u SplituZbornik Radova Pravnog Fakulteta u Splitu0584-90631847-04592012-01-01493553573Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition lawAna PošćićArticle 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prohibits abuse of a dominant position by one or more undertakings within the common market. One of abuse forms being especially difficult to prove is predatory pricing. This paper attempts to find parameters to be helpful in distinguishing normal competition where undertakings with their better products and products of higher quality squeeze out competitors from predatory behaviour situations. To differentiate acceptable from illicit behaviours the so-called AKZO test is applied under which a predatory price is determined by cost analysis assuming that the prices below average variable costs are predatory prices. Prices above average variable costs but below average total costs will not be predatory prices, unless they are a part of a policy of elimination of competition. Therefore, the relation between price and costs will be taken into consideration, where, under certain circumstances, it will be supplemented with test of intention. Although opinions that the AKZO test should be combined with the recoupment test appear in the doctrine, it seems that the test based on costs is still sufficient by taking into account the strategies and behaviours of undertakings.http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/129210competitionEuropean lawabuse of dominant positionpredatory prices
spellingShingle Ana Pošćić
Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law
Zbornik Radova Pravnog Fakulteta u Splitu
competition
European law
abuse of dominant position
predatory prices
title Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law
title_full Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law
title_fullStr Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law
title_full_unstemmed Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law
title_short Proving predatory pricing in European Union Competition law
title_sort proving predatory pricing in european union competition law
topic competition
European law
abuse of dominant position
predatory prices
url http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/129210
work_keys_str_mv AT anaposcic provingpredatorypricingineuropeanunioncompetitionlaw