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Pricing, algorithms and competition

Save the date

Pricing, algorithms and competition

22 April 2025

Venue: Corvinus University Budapest


14.00-14.10: Welcome by Pál Szilágyi (Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Competition Law Research Centre)

14.10-14.45: Joseph Harrington (University of Pennsylvania – Wharton): Impact of third-party pricing algorithms on market competition

14.45-15.20: Heski Bar-Isaac (University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management): Algorithms, Learning, and Pricing

Short break

15.30-16.05: Ioannis Lianos (University College London, former President of the Hellenic Competition Commission): Technological advancement, algorithms and the challenges of competition law enforcement

16.05-16.40: Aviv Nevo (University of Pennsylvania, former Director US FTC Bureau of Economics): Pricing and technology: competition concerns and case experience

16.40-17.30: Roundtable discussion moderated by Zombor Berezvai (Corvinus University of Budapest)

Registration

Registration link

Speakers

Pál Szilágyi

Director, Competition Law Research Centre

Director of the Competition Law Research Center and Associate Professor of Law and Political Science at Pázmány Péter Catholic University, where he teaches competition law & policy and European Union law. He obtained his law degree at PPKE JÁK, then obtained postgraduate diploma in European law at the University of Cambridge, competition law at King's College London, and an LL.M. in Competition Law degree at the latter institution. Pál is the program director of the PPKE JÁK competition law specialist training, the author of numerous domestic and foreign publications.

Joseph Harrington

Patrick T. Harker Professor Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy

Joe Harrington is the Patrick T. Harker Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at Wharton.

Professor Harrington has published more than 75 articles and his research has appeared in many leading journals including the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, Econometrica, Management Science, and American Journal of Sociology. His current research focuses on collusion and cartels, with the objectives of understanding observed collusive practices, developing observable markers of collusion, and designing competition policy to detect and deter collusion. His research is on the interface of theory and practice and has been presented before competition authorities throughout the world including those of Chile, European Union, Japan, South Africa, and the U.S. He has also published two textbooks: Economics of Regulation and Antitrust (4th edition, MIT Press) with Kip Viscusi and John Vernon, and Games, Strategies, and Decision Making (2nd edition, Worth Publishers).

Heski Bar-Isaac

Professor, Economic Analysis and Policy and Finance, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance

Heski Bar-Isaac is a Professor of Integrative Thinking, Finance, and Economic Analysis and Policy, and a Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance

Ioannis Lianos

Professor of Global Competition Law and Public Policy

Ioannis Lianos is Professor, Chair of Global Competition Law and Public Policy at the Faculty of Laws, University College London. He is a member of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal since 2024. He was President of the Hellenic Competition Commission from August 2019 to January 2024. Ioannis was elected a member of the Bureau of the OECD Competition Committee in 2021 and re-elected in 2022 and 2023. He was also a member of the EU High Level Group for the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and he was part of the Greek delegation during the negotiations for the adoption of the DMA. 

Aviv Nevo

George A. Weiss and Lydia Bravo Weiss University Professor

Professor Nevo is a Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor with appointments in the Economics Department is SAS and the Marketing department in Wharton.

His research focuses empirical Industrial Organization, Marketing, Antitrust and Competition Economics, and Econometrics. His past work has focused on estimating the demand for consumer packaged goods and the implications for price competition, mergers, and marketing. He has also done research in the areas of health economics, health care, telecom, and real estate.

He is a fellow of the Econometric Society, a research associate of NBER, an international research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London, and co-editor of Econometrica.

Professor Nevo earned a Ph.D. in 1997 and AM in 1994 in economics from Harvard University and a BSc with Special Honors in mathematics and economics from Tel Aviv University in 1991.

He came to Penn from Northwestern, where he taught since 2004, as part as of the Penn Integrates Knowledge program. 

Zombor Berezvai

Associate Professor at Corvinus University of Budapest

Zombor Berezvai is Chief Economist at the Hungarian Competition Authority and Associate Professor at Corvinus University of Budapest. Prior to his academic career, he worked at Procter & Gamble as a finance manager and at Planslab as a senior consultant in charge of several projects. He teaches econometrics, data-driven decision making, market research and competition policy at various universities in Hungary. His research interests include competition policy, micromobility, economics of education, public health and cultural tourism. He has published several papers in high-ranking journals and received prestigious awards such as the Academic Youth Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2023, the Corvinus Research Excellence Award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the Outstanding Paper Literati Award of Emerald in 2020.

Organized by

in cooperation with Hungarian Academy of Sciences Subcommittee on Marketing of the Committee on Economics.

Conference: The Private Enforcement Directive turns 20

SAVE THE DATE

Conference: The Private Enforcement Directive turns 20 - date to be announced soon


A Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem, Jog- és Államtudományi Kar Versenyjogi Kutatóközpontja és a Magyar Versenyjogi Egyesület szervezésében.

Venue: Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28., Pope St. John Paul II Hall 

Welcome address: Pál Szilágyi (Director, Competition Law Research Centre) and Krisztián Kovács (Lecturer, Pázmány Péter Catholic University)

1. Keynote by Judge Zoltán Csehi (European Court of Justice)

2. Keynote 2.

3. Panel I. Procedural issues, incl. applicable law, locus standi, statute of limitations

- András Horváth (Hegymegi-Barakonyi & Fehérváry Baker & McKenzie)

4. Lunch

5. Keynote 3.

6. Panel II. Proof of damages, calculation, passing on defence and other relevant questions

Closing remarks: Pál Szilágyi (Director, Competition Law Research Centre)

Sponsored by

Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences

H-1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28.

Our University is the oldest still existing Hungarian universitas. Its founder, Péter Pázmány, was the most influential figure of the 17th century Catholic palingenesis, whose works prepared the way for the fame of the Hungarian literary language. His language and multy-coloured style established a convention to be followed for centuries, and his works of almost 12 thousand pages are a treasure of Hungarian literature. During the Turkish occupation, Pázmány acted "according to the desolate state of the country", when, keeping an eye on the welfare of the whole country, for the sake of the elevation of the nation, he established the university by his founding letter of 12 May 1635, which is significant in the history of the Hungarian educational system and chuch culture.

How to get there

H-1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28.

Registration to the conference

Participation at the event is free, but subject to regsitration. Registration opens on 7th of September.

1st State Aid Law Forum

State Aid Law Forum 2024

Save the date:
04 October 2024


Venue: Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28., Pope St. John Paul II Hall 

8.30-9.00 Registration and coffee

9.00-9.15 Welcome addresses by László Komáromi, dean of the Law School

Morning Sessions chaired by Tihamér Tóth (judge of the General Court of the EU and PPCU)

9.15-11.00 First panel: Recent developments and Challenges at EU and Member States levels

9.15-9.40 Karl Soukup (director of DG Comp, EU Commission): State aid policy – looking back and ahead

Slides

9.40-10.10 Ion Galea (judge of the General Court of the EU): Highlights from the case law of the EU Courts

Slides

10.10-10.30 László Gyerkó (Romanian Competition Council, councillor, member of the board): State aid enforcement in Romania – a proper tool for sustainable development

Slides

10.30-10.50 Anita Gyürkés (head of the State Aid Monitoring Office): Challenges of back to normal

Slides

10.50-11.00 Discussion

11.00-11.20 Coffee break

11.20-12.30 Second panel: The Application of the Market Economy operator Principle in Practice

Panel members: Eszter Hargita (State Aid Monitoring Office),

Áron Kovalóczy (DLA Piper Business Advisory, Budapest),

Slides

Jacques Derenne (University of Liège)

Slides

Lunch Break

13.30-15.00 Third panel: Foreign subsidy Regulation and competition rules

Chair: Mónika Papp (HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences)  

Panel members: Daniel Colgan  (DLA Piper, Brussels),

Slides

Peter Staviczky (Permanent Representation of Hungary to the EU),

Slides

Judit Buránszki (head of the M&A section of the GVH)

Slides

15.00 Closing remarks by Tihamér Tóth

Sponsored by

Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences

H-1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28.

Our University is the oldest still existing Hungarian universitas. Its founder, Péter Pázmány, was the most influential figure of the 17th century Catholic palingenesis, whose works prepared the way for the fame of the Hungarian literary language. His language and multy-coloured style established a convention to be followed for centuries, and his works of almost 12 thousand pages are a treasure of Hungarian literature. During the Turkish occupation, Pázmány acted "according to the desolate state of the country", when, keeping an eye on the welfare of the whole country, for the sake of the elevation of the nation, he established the university by his founding letter of 12 May 1635, which is significant in the history of the Hungarian educational system and chuch culture.

How to get there

H-1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28.

Registration to the 1st State Aid Law Forum

Participation at the event is free, but subject to regsitration.

EU law and sport

1st Annual Conference on EU Law - Competition and Sport

On the 24th - 25th of May 2024 the Competition Law Research Centre at Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Budapest) organized an event on European Union law, sports and competition law. This prestigious event brought together leading experts to discuss critical issues in competition law and its intersection with sports. The insightful presentations from distinguished judges and academics provided a comprehensive overview of recent case law and the expanding competencies of the EU Courts. The panels on state aid cases, the organization of professional sport events, and regulated competition in digital markets were particularly enlightening.

A highlight of the conference was the interactive discussions and the opportunity to network with peers and industry leaders. The event's organization was impeccable, and the social activities, including the badminton competition, fostered camaraderie and a spirit of collaboration. Special thanks to the sponsors (Dentons (Golden Sponsor) and Backer&McKenzie (Silver Sponsor) and organizers for creating a platform that not only advanced our understanding of EU competition law but also celebrated the community's shared passion for sports. This conference was a testament to the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue in shaping the future of competition law in Europe.

EU law and sport

1st Annual Conference on EU Law - Competition and Sport

International conference
Budapest

24 - 25 May 2024

Venue: H-1088 Budapest, Szentkirályi u. 28. - Great Hall

Schedule


24

Friday

May 2024
25

Saturday

May 2024

09:00 - 14:00

Badminton competition

Venue: Hodos Tamás Tollaslabda Csarnok, Budapest, Váci út 102.

The event is supported by Unilever Hungária Kft., and opened by Péter Kapitány, president of the Hungarian Badminton Association

This is both a social and sportive event, no professional sport skills are necessary, as badminton is a sport almost everyone can play at some level. Participants will be provided with refreshments and a light lunch.

The event will be organized and assisted by a professional club in the badminton hall of Budapest.

Participants will be grouped into three categories: beginners (players “for fun”, those who have not played badminton professionally), hobby players (who already know the rules, and play badminton in a hall from time to time), professional players (former or current members of a badminton club, with an experience of participation in badminton tournaments). Players can play both singles and doubles. We will not have a separate competition for men and women, unless we receive a sufficient number of applications for the professional category.

Following a team-building warm-up, the rules will be explained. Some rockets will be provided by the hall. Matches will be played with plastic shuttles, unless players agree otherwise and provide feather shuttles.

Participants of the conference who paid the conference fee, as well as representatives of the sponsors are welcome to participate in this social event without an additional fee.

Others may participate subject to a fee of 10.000 HUF (25 EUR). Please submit your request to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. detailing whether you wish to play singles, doubles, or both and in which category (beginner, hobby, professional), no later than 15 May 2024.

Supported by our Premium Sponsors

We would also like to express our special gratitude to the St. Andrea Winery supporting our event!

Hungarian case law

Starting from: 11.01.2024

Judgements of the Curia, the highest court in Hungary

Medical equipment cartel (Kfv.I.37.452/2023)

Main findings of the court:

  • In competition cases, a fine may be imposed for exceeding the time limit.
  • Even if the time limit is exceeded for a short period of time, the applicants may still have the opportunity to prove additional harm, which must be assessed in the context of the amount of the fine.
  • In order to establish the existence of a restriction by object, the sufficient degree of harm required by the case-law requires the existence of a sufficiently firm and reliable finding that the agreement of the type in question is, by its very nature, harmful to the proper functioning of competition. This does not require a detailed market impact assessment, but it does require an assessment of the content of the agreement, its objectives and its economic and legal background, in order to determine whether it can be considered to be of such a nature as to show a sufficient degree of harm to competition."

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Competition Law Research Centre

Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences

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