Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy

Since 2009, the Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy of the IIMS has accumulated extensive experience in carrying out analytical projects commissioned by companies devoted to the economic analysis of competition, price levels, terms of contracts, primarily for the purposes of applying the Law on Protection of Competition and the Law on Trade.

Fundamental projects

2025 - 2027: Restructuring of the Russian Companies, Industries and Markets in Response to New Global Challenges (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2024: Transformation of Comparative Advantages and Industrial Structure of the Russian Economy: Assessment of the Effects of 2022 Shock (head Svetlana Golovanova)

2024: ­­­Competitive Effects of Application Regimes of Digital Data and Advertising in the Platform Markets (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2023: Competition policy on the digital markets within de-globalization (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2022: The evidence-based competition policy in the markets controlled by digital platforms (The international and Russian practice) (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2021: Competition Policy in the Markets under Technological Transformations: Instruments, Possibilities and Risks (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2020: The scope and prospects of international competition policy of BRICS countries (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2019: Standards of proof in the investigation of law infringement about competition in BRICS countries (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2018: Independence of judicial decisions as a factor of formation of economic policy (on the example of the application of antimonopoly legislation) (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2017: The standard application of antitrust prohibitions: the factors of formation and development (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2016: The Economic Analysis of challenging of the accusational decisions of competition authority (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

2015: Economic analysis of administrative enforcement of legal provision (on the example of antitrust): procedures of litigation initiating (head Svetlana Avdasheva)

Expertise

List of laboratory competencies

• Determination of product and geographical boundaries of the market;
• Assessment of the compliance of the behavior of the dominant market participant with the requirements of Article 10 of the Law on Protection of Competition;
• Assessment of monopolistically high/low prices;
• Testing the hypothesis of coordinated actions;
• Assessment of the impact of commercial policy conditions on competition and the seller's profit;
• Assessment of the consequences of an economic concentration transaction;
• Testing the hypothesis of discrimination;
• Assessment of the effects of vertical constraints;
• Assessment of the effects of changes in legislation;
• Assessment of compliance programs.

The implemented methods of economic analysis include:

• Determination of product and geographical boundaries of the market;
• Calculation of market volume;
• Determination of the level of market concentration;
• Identification of barriers to entry into the market;
• Assessment of the state of competition in accordance with Procedure-220.

Our experience

• Expert opinions on certain issues of competition policy in the Russian Federation;
• Studies to defend the company's position in accordance with the Law on Trade;
• Assessment of the economic effects of changes in antitrust legislation;
• Expert opinions for appealing decisions of the FAS of Russia in an arbitration court;
• Expert opinions to assess the regulatory impact of certain provisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation and prepare proposals for their improvement;
• Expert opinions for the analysis of organizational alternatives for the development of certain industries in the Russian Federation;
• Expert opinions to prepare the customer's position in litigation with the regulator.

Testimonials from our customers

"The economic analysis prepared by the Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy of the Institute of Industrial and Market Studies of the HSE University made it possible to confirm our legal position in the framework of proceedings with the FAS of Russia, as a result of which the administrative prosecution against JSC Tuapse Commercial Sea Port was terminated, and an amicable agreement was concluded in the case of CJSC Container Terminal of St. Petersburg in 2018," T.A. Management

'Cooperation with HSE University was carried out in the form of providing expert conclusion. The materials received were certainly useful and were used by the company as one of the arguments in litigation. The opinions of HSE experts were of great help to Magnit in defending its position during the formation of judicial practice under the Law on Trade," PJSC "Magnit"

"The research carried out by the specialists of the Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy of the IIMS helped to substantiate new approaches to determining the state of competition in certain commodity markets of the Russian Federation. The results of the study were used to prepare the customer's position in litigation with the regulator," Primorsk Commercial Port LLC

"The materials prepared by the Laboratory were used for expert work with the FAS of Russia as part of a project to settle relations in one of the most difficult commodity markets from a regulatory point of view. The analysis helped both business entities and the regulator to understand the complex relationships of numerous participants in this market, to determine its product and geographical boundaries. The work of the Laboratory has become, in fact, the starting point for all subsequent research, both legal and economic, which were subsequently carried out within the framework of the project," Kirill Dozmarov, Attorney at Law, Partner at Kulik & Partners Law.Economics

"We regularly work with experts from the Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy of the IIMS and appreciate its specialists for their experience and depth of expert study of problematic issues of antitrust regulation. In one of the major antitrust proceedings, we needed the expertise of the Laboratory to develop a position in the framework of a judicial challenge to the decision of the FAS Russia. In this case, we represented the applicant in whose favor the decision of the FAS of Russia was made, and we needed to develop counterarguments to the arguments of the defendant in the antitrust case challenging the decision of the FAS of Russia. The economic report prepared by the experts of the Laboratory was one of the key evidence that allowed us to defend the interests of our client in court," Antitrust Advisory Law Firm

"The report on the results of the research work carried out by the Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy of the IIMS was used during the consideration of the case of violation of antimonopoly legislation. For us, the report significantly strengthened the position of our client in the case. It is worth noting that in cases of violation of antitrust legislation, it has long been a good tone to resort to the help of not only lawyers, but also economists, since antitrust is more about economics and understanding of commodity markets," – Non-Profit Partnership "Center for the Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs and Investors "Art de Lex"

"The in-depth and high-quality conclusion prepared in 2012 by specialists from the Laboratory of Competition and Antimonopoly Policy of the Institute of Industrial and Market Studies of the Higher School of Economics made it possible to systematically assess the regulatory impact of certain provisions of the legislation and formulate proposals for their improvement," Gazprom Neft PJSC

"The decision to involve experts in this case was not only correct, it was largely decisive for a number of reasons. Our case was innovative. There was practically no judicial practice on bringing business entities to liability under the composition of "concerted actions" of the Law on Protection of Competition (in the version in force at that time). At the same time, there was a negative practice for business on similar elements of the Law on Trade, which complicated the task. HSE experts prepared an in-depth comprehensive economic opinion, which was attached to the case file and on which we relied in presenting our position to the court." – Eldorado LLC