LAW8591 : Global Competition Law & Policy in the Digital Era
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Available for Study Abroad and Exchange students, subject to School approval at module registration
- Module Leader(s): Dr Neha Vyas
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
This is a comprehensive module on competition regulation in the digital era. The module aims to cover a wide range of jurisdictions as case studies to outline the global trends in competition law and policy.
Students will understand the fundamentals of competition law and policy like market definition, barriers to entry, relevant market and how digitisation has evolved the theoretical underpinnings of these concepts. There are three main components of competition regulation i.e. anticompetitive agreements, abuse of dominance and merger control that are uniform for legal frameworks in most jurisdictions. Of course, the way these components are shaped and adjudicated is dependent on the competition policy of a particular jurisdiction. Within this context, the module includes the legal, judicial and institutional framework for two leading jurisdictions in the developed countries i.e. the EU, and the US. Due to the rapid rise in digital markets, there are new forms of misconduct within the three aforementioned components. For instance, collusions facilitated by algorithms, feedback loops, interoperability, and so on. The module highlights these nuanced challenges and the emerging regulatory frameworks that have been developed to tackle such issues. It also maps the shift in regulatory approaches on digital markets from developed to developing countries. This will be accomplished by discussing case studies of legal frameworks from countries like India, South Africa, Brazil etc.
For a long time, the world of work has been overlooked in competition policy debates. Issues like no-poaching agreements, wage-fixing agreements, information sharing and other concerns arising from the rise in digital labour platforms have only been discussed more recently. This theme, therefore, adds a unique element to the module and especially complements the module on ‘Law, Digital Labour Platforms and Workers’ rights’.
The module will have a running theme of digitisation and its impact on regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms in a global context. It is complementary to the courses offered under the International Commercial Law and Emerging Technologies and Law strands.
Outline Of Syllabus
Competition law & policy101 - I
Competition law & policy 101 -II
EU – legal framework- I
EU – legal framework– II
US – legal framework
Recent trends in competition regulation in the EU, UK and the US
Global trends – a shift in regulation from developed to developing countries - I
Global trends - a shift in regulation from developed to developing countries - II
The intersection of competition regulation and labour markets - I
The intersection of competition regulation and labour markets – II
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 2:00 | 20:00 | In-person classes |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | Topic selection for the assignment, conducting a literature review, and undertaking extensive research in preparation for the different components of the assignment. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 4 | 1:30 | 6:00 | Group discussion/group presentation on topics/problem statements decided by the module leader |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 25 | 1:00 | 25:00 | Going through additional reading materials before attending the lectures as well as in preparation for the academic skills activities |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | For specific queries regarding the content of the module and the topic selection for the assignments. (Compulsory) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 84 | 1:00 | 84:00 | Self-study |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching for this module will be conducted through a combination of lectures, group discussions, and critical dialogues. Furthermore, there will be a number of drop-in/surgery hours, where students can ask questions regarding course content, specific readings, research material, research topics, or preparation relating to the assessment for the module. Students’ active participation and discussion will be facilitated by the structured research and reading activities, where students will be provided with a piece (e.g., policy paper, case law, academic article, etc.) and will be expected to read it, reflect on the arguments provided, conduct research on legal databases or other resources relating to the arguments raised, identify counterarguments in the literature, and critically assess the opinions expressed on this specific issue. Following this work, students will be expected to prepare a small presentation to be given in their chosen session to present and explain their findings. Furthermore, students will be able to take academic skills activities that can be used to test their knowledge and understanding of the factual content of the module. Directed research and reading will be prepared for each session, which will allow students to develop greater insight into the areas of legal research discussed in the lecture, with an additional reading list provided on Canvas with further readings. These reading materials can also be used by students to draft their research proposal during their assessment preparation and completion, for which detailed instructions and feedback (when requested) will be provided.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research paper | 1 | M | 100 | 3000 words |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 300 word abstract |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The module leader will give 4 broad research themes covering contemporary issues in the field of Global Competition law in the digital era. Students can choose the research theme and narrow it down to a specific topic on which they want to write the research article. They can choose any jurisdiction for their research or decide upon a topic that is relevant from the international or comparative Competition law perspective. They are also encouraged to establish a connection between Competition Law and other areas of law (for instance, labour law, IP law, consumer protection and so on). They can also incorporate insights from other disciplines. After deciding on the topic, they should submit it to the module leader for approval. Students can contact the module leader during the designated time to discuss their chosen topic and its viability.
Following this, there will be a comprehensive interim assessment (Assignment 1) to gauge students’ understanding of the subject as well as to receive their feedback. To this end, the students should submit a 300-word abstract which should include a brief introduction, research questions and research methodology on the topic decided for the 3000-word research paper. Students will be able to practice their analytical and research skills by selecting a relevant topic and starting the literature review on the topic. It will also encourage the students to use different research methods and approaches and put them into the context of the module.
For Assignment 2, students are expected to write a 3000-word research paper. Through these assignments, students will have the opportunity to sharpen their research and analytical skills, critical thinking capabilities and writing skills.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW8591's Timetable