Merger Control in Italy 1995-2003: A Statistical Study of the Enforcement Practice by Mining the Text of Authority Resolutions

Authors: Noce, Mauro La¹; Bolasco, Sergio²; Allegra, Elisabetta³; Ruocco, Valerio³; Capo, Federico¹

Source: International Journal of the Economics of Business, Volume 13, Number 2, July 2006 , pp. 307-334(28)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The paper provides a consistency analysis of the decisions taken by the Italian Competition Authority within the 1995-2003 period, concerning its control over mergers and acquisitions. An ample database was constructed using the tools of textual analysis. This data base was generated in a semi‐automatic manner and handled with statistical methods, the final aim being the econometric specification - through a logit model - and estimation of the `de facto' decision model of the Authority, thereby making its principles more transparent and predictable. Model simulation exercises, dependant on multivariate market scenarios, helped estimate the threshold levels triggering Authority intervention.

Keywords: Antitrust; Competition Law; Merger; Merger Control; Text‐Mining

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13571510600784862

Affiliations: 1: Intern at the Italian Competition Authority, Information Resources Directorate, Statistical and Document Management Office, Piazza G. Verdi 6/a, 00198 Rome, Italy 2: University of Rome `La Sapienza', Via del Castro Laurenziano 9 - 00161 Rome, Italy 3: Italian Competition Authority, Information Resources Directorate, Statistical and Document Management Office, Piazza G. Verdi 6/a, 00198 Rome, Italy

Publication date: 2006-07-01

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