Focus on Behavioral Economics and Quantitative Research

Focus on Behavioral Economics and Quantitative Research

Part time (64% from Sep 2014 - Aug 2015; 45% from Sep 2012 - Aug 2014)I was involved in the following courses:-Empirical Research Paper for Economics (2nd year Bachelor Economics and Business Economics; 2015)-Intermediate Mathematics: optimization techniques (2nd year Bachelor Economics & Business Economics; 2012-2015)-Introduction to Mathematical Economics: mathematical models on producer and consumer theory (2nd year Bachelor Econometrics & Operations Research; 2015)-Microeconomics for E&BE: Consumers&Firms: basic principles of microeconomic theory (1st year Bachelor Economics and Business Economics; 2014)-Statistical Modelling for EOR: introduction to econometrics and actuarial sciences (1st year Bachelor Econometrics & Operations Research; 2012-2015)-Wiskunde II BE: mathematics course on matrix algebra and optimization techniques (in Dutch; 2nd year Bachelor Business Economics; 2012-2013)I am also involved in the examination of Games and Industrial Organization: game theory and competition policy (Master Economics) and Game Theory (3rd year Bachelor Econometrics & Operations Research) for the years 2012-2015.

Part timeExperimental Economics focusing on Competition Policy

Part time (1 day per week)Research Project on the regulation of energy markets for the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM)

Research (85%)Defense: October 13, 2014Title: Collusion, Antitrust Policy and Leniency Programs – Experiments and TheoryAbstract: This dissertation tries to increase our understanding of collusion, antitrust policy and leniency programs. Under collusion, firms make agreements to restrict competition, typically by fixing prices. Antitrust policy aims to reduce such behavior. One of its tools is leniency programs, under which firms may receive a reduction of fines if they report their cartel to the authorities.Part I of this dissertation studies how certain aspects of the market environment affect collusion. First, we investigate in an experiment whether, and if so when, price leadership facilitates tacit collusion. Second, we study theoretically and experimentally the degree of collusion for different industry structures that are subject to regulation by means of yardstick competition. Part II considers the effectiveness of leniency programs concerning cartel formation and reporting. First, we examine in an experiment the effectiveness of such a program when firms are allowed to communicate freely and can apply for leniency after observing whether the antitrust authority has started a cartel investigation. Second, we investigate in a theoretical model the effectiveness of Amnesty Plus, under which a firm may receive lower fines for one cartel if it is the first to report another cartel on another market.Teaching (15%):-Mathematics IIb for Economics: optimization techniques (2nd year Bachelor Economics & Business Economics; 2009-2012)-Statistical Modelling: introduction to econometrics and actuarial sciences (1st year Bachelor Econometrics & Operations Research; 2009-2012)-Statistiek Bedrijfskunde: statistics course (in Dutch; 1st year Bachelor Bedrijfskunde; 2010-2011)

Assessment of merger cases

Master thesis internship.Project title: "Indicating Potential Market Power based on Quality Competition in the Dutch Hospital Market."