Horizontal and Vertical Agreements
NERA's antitrust experts have assessed the economic rationales and effects of horizontal and vertical agreements across the globe. In the US, NERA experts have analyzed the competitive implications of agreements in industries as diverse as pet food, soft drinks, software, industrial products, coal, and franchising (including, for example, restaurants, tools, and professional sports). We assess the competitive impact of practices such as territorial exclusivity, cooperative advertising programs, exclusive dealing, and resale price maintenance. Our analyses have been presented to federal and state investigative agencies and in Federal and state courts.
NERA's European competition team is at the forefront in pushing for a more rigorous economic approach to the assessment of horizontal and vertical agreements. Our experts have analyzed the economic impact of numerous agreements between firms at different levels of the supply chain, including selective distribution, exclusive distribution, exclusive dealing, and the impact of recommended retail prices. NERA economists play an important ongoing role in this evolving area of European competition policy.
