Alexander Schafer

DICE is an acronym for Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics. We are aiming to be the leading academic center for Competition Economics in Germany and we also plan to gain an influential stance in Europe. DICE wants to foster the idea of a liberal competitive economic system through excellence in research, teaching, and policy advice. Our research encloses theoretical, empirical and experimental work on competition problems. For instance, we consider questions concerning merger control, abusive practices of firms, vertical or horizontal business relations, the regulation of network industries, or the essential institutional framework for effective market competition. In addition to excellence in research complying with international standards, we stress the applicability of our work and aim for a continuous exchange with business experts, policy makers, and administrations. The objective of DICE is to be a leading institution in Europe in teaching, researching and advising on matters of competition and regulatory economics. Our research is innovative, relevant and internationally visible; it comprises theoretical, empirical and experimental works and is strongly related to real-world problems. Strong methodological competencies and a focus on applications characterize our excellent education and the promotion of junior researchers. We prepare our students and junior researchers in an ideal manner for a career in the areas of competition policy and regulatory economics. The DICE is an important contributor to economic policy debates at the regional, national and European level. We see it as our task to transfer knowledge to both experts and the broader public.