Providing a full range of economic analysis and testimony.
Antitrust laws are designed to regulate the conduct of businesses and other entities to promote fair competition for the benefit of consumers, workers, and other input sellers. Underlying the enforcement of these laws are complex economic questions and case-specific issues that often require sophisticated econometric and statistical analysis.
At Monument Economics Group, our team of economists, econometricians, and industry experts combine a deep understanding of real-world market behavior with extensive training in applied and theoretical industrial organization and microeconomics and industry-specific knowledge to solve challenging economic issues that arise regularly in antitrust litigation.
Economists at Monument Economics Group employ relevant economic theory and sound empirical methods to provide a full range of consulting and testimony in matters involving antitrust litigation and competition policy.
Our team of economists has significant experience assisting clients throughout the entire life cycle of a case, from pre-litigation industry analyses, discovery, class certification, to liability and damages. Our experts have developed reliable economic models that withstand the most rigorous scrutiny, and our opinions are routinely relied upon by courts in class certification and for determining damages.
Our experts are skilled in analyzing the entire range of economic issues that arise in antitrust matters, including relevant product and geographic market definition, pricing, market dynamics, entry conditions, agreements, single-firm conduct, and profitability.
Complex analyses, consulting services, and expert testimony with proven expertise in a variety of contexts, including:
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Price-Fixing
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Mergers & Acquisitions
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Vertical Restraints
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Monopolization
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Anti-Dumping
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Bid Rigging
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Supply Restrictions
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Predatory Pricing
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Bundling
- Titanium dioxide
- Polyurethane foam
- Aftermarket automotive lighting products
- Aftermarket automotive sheet metal parts
- Liquid crystal display (LCD) panels
- Gypsum wallboard
- Capacitors
- Defining relevant product and geographic markets
- Measuring market concentration
- Analyzing entry conditions
- Evaluating potential for unilateral and coordinated competitive effects
- Assessing efficiencies
Price-Fixing
Experts at Monument Economics Group have extensive experience providing economic analyses in antitrust litigation involving allegations of price-fixing.
Our work has been instrumental in many major cases involving allegations of price-fixing, including:
MEG’s experts developed econometric models used to assess and value the alleged conspiracy’s effect on prices and competition; provided testimony regarding the quantum of damages sustained by members of the class; and responded to opposing experts’ evidence and opinions.
Our work in this area is routinely used to assist in class certification as well as settlement negotiations and mediation.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Economists at Monument Economics Group have analyzed the competitive effects of many different actual and potential mergers and acquisitions across a variety of industries throughout the world.
We offer services related to all areas of antitrust merger review, including:
Our expert analyses rely on relevant economic theory, rigorous empirical methods applied to complex data, and industry expertise to evaluate the likely effects of proposed mergers and acquisitions on prices, costs, and competition.
Vertical Restraints
Vertical restraints are restrictions or limitations imposed by firms at one level of the production chain on firms located at another level of the production chain.
Monument Economics Group has long-standing experience evaluating vertical restrictions used to disadvantage or exclude efficient rivals in a marketplace. In particular, our experts have been retained to provide analyses in matters involving exclusive dealing, which occurs when a buyer is required to purchase a good or service from a single seller.
Such arrangements can harm competition by preventing potential rivals from entering a market or inhibiting existing buyers’ ability to grow and compete effectively.
Experts at Monument Economics Group have experience assessing claims of exclusive dealing with the technical and analytical expertise required to measure the potential impact on market output and consumer prices.
Monopolization
Economists at Monument Economics Group are adept at applying clear reasoning and cogent analysis to tackle the complex questions surrounding the harm to competition from conduct that can create or maintain monopoly power.
Our staff is experienced at using economic theory, econometric analysis, and structural and direct evidence to evaluate monopoly power and firm conduct aimed to create, strengthen, or maintain monopoly power.
In cases where a firm’s conduct is shown to lead to the illegal creation or maintenance of monopoly power, our economists offer unique expertise in using sophisticated empirical methods to estimate damages.
Anti-Dumping
The international competitive landscape is becoming increasingly complex as global markets continue to integrate.
The competitive balance between domestic and overseas suppliers is affected by the possibility of dumping, which occurs when a foreign producer sells a product in the United States at “less than nominal value” such that a competing U.S. industry suffers “material injury.”
At Monument Economics Group, our economists are well-versed in the econometrics and statistical tools used to evaluate anti-dumping allegations. We have the experience, analytical capabilities, and technical expertise required to assist our clients in these matters.
Bid Rigging
Bid rigging, which occurs when conspirators agree to coordinate bids to raise prices, presents unique challenges to litigators and antitrust enforcement agencies.
Building on a firm understanding of markets for goods or services acquired by soliciting bids, our experts are adept at analyzing complex economic and statistical issues related to allegations of bid rigging.
Supply Restrictions
Antitrust litigation often involves conspiracies executed through output coordination and production limitations intended to result in artificially inflated prices.
At Monument Economics Group, our experts draw on years of case experience and analytical expertise in evaluating allegations of anti-competitive supply restrictions.
Predatory Pricing
Economists at Monument Economics Group have significant experience evaluating claims of predatory pricing, which occurs when a firm sets its prices artificially low for the purpose of driving rivals out of the relevant market which then enables future monopoly pricing.
Our statistical and analytical methods for measuring the effects of predatory pricing on output and prices have proven sound and reliable in a number of cases.
Bundling
Bundling occurs when a firm offers to sell two or more products together for a single price, which can lead to increases in monopoly power in one of the products.
Our experts have provided analyses of the competitive effects of bundling, evaluating the implications for a firm’s ability to gain monopoly power by foreclosing potential or existing rivals.
