The Chief Competition Economist
The Chief Competition Economist
Kai-Uwe Kühn is the Chief Competition Economist. He is on leave from the University of Michigan where he is an Associate Professor. Professor Kühn has previously held teaching positions at Princeton University, the Institute of Economic Analysis (CSIC) in Barcelona, and CEMFI, Madrid. His research in recent years has focused on antitrust economics, with a particular interest in collusion, vertical integration, and foreclosure. Professor Kühn has advised clients in competition cases before several competition authorities including the Commission.
The role of the Chief Competition Economist
Economic advice for case enforcement and policy initiatives
The Chief Economist is part of the Commission's Competition Directorate General, and assists in evaluating the economic impact of its actions. The Chief Economist provides independent guidance on methodological issues of economics and econometrics in the application of EU competition rules. He contributes to individual competition cases (in particular ones involving complex economic issues and quantitative analysis), to the development of general policy instruments, as well as assisting with cases pending before the Community Courts.
Development of economic expertise in the Directorate General
The Chief Economist acts as a focus for economic debate within DG COMP, in liaison with other Commission services and in association with the academic world. Members of his team organise training sessions on economic issues and give advice on studies of a general economic nature, as well as on market monitoring.
The Chief Economist also coordinates the activities of the Economic Advisory Group on Competition Policy (EAGCP).
A more detailed description of the role of the Chief Economist can be found in the article "The Office of the Chief Competition Economist at the European Commission" by Lars-Hendrik Röller and Pierre A. Buigues (May 2005).
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