Nobel Prize Winner in Economics joins CADE's Workshop

On 15 May, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) hosted a special edition of the seminar “Economics & Competition Defence”, organised by the Department of Economic Studies (DEE). Professor Jean Tirole, Nobel Memorial Prize Winner in Economic Sciences in 2014, participated in the event.

Mr Alexandre Cordeiro, president of CADE, highlighted the importance of the meeting and the academic career of the economist during the opening session.  "There are many lessons to be learnt from this meeting. The theoretical contributions presented here will be of great importance to anyone working with competitive matters", he stated.

Professor Tirole is recognised for his contributions on market power and regulation, and is considered one of the most influential economists of our time. He is the honorary president of the Toulouse School of Economics and the author of important works on the dynamics of oligopoly markets, and the complexities of state action in the face of large economic agents. His research has shaped the way institutions around the world deal with regulatory issues in the modern economy.

During his presentation, Professor Tirole addressed issues related to the functioning of digital markets and the transformations driven by new technologies, as well as the challenges of regulating, the so-called "dominant platforms". According to the economist, "Regulation needs to be smart, without hindering innovations, and it must happen quickly, since technologies are constantly changing".

Mrs Lílian Marques, chief economist at CADE, evaluated the meeting as "memorable", emphasising the technical quality of the professor's productions, which are the basis of the DEE’s daily analyses. "His presence not only enriched the technical debate, but also reaffirmed the importance of dialogue between the Brazilian Antitrust Authority and the great references in the field of industrial organisation. This meeting will be remembered both by the ones who were here and by our agency," she said.

Mrs Marques also mentioned the importance of civil society's participation in the debates held during the Workshop. According to her, the event reinforces the exchange between CADE and the antitrust community. "The goal is not only to have a conversation with our staff, but also to build bridges with those outside the agency," she concluded.

 Economics & Competition Defence Seminars

The project aims to promote discussions among experts and academics of different fields of expertise related to competition defence and economic regulation. 

In addition, the seminars help with the institutional improvement, and the dissemination of antitrust policy, especially on competition advocacy matters.

After this edition, the Department of Economic Studies (DEE) has reached the mark of 50 events held since 2016, proving that the initiative is consolidated as an essential space for training and knowledge exchange.