LLM in Law and Economics

Navigating Tomorrow's Competition and Regulation Challenges

In the past two decades, many aspects of business and social life have been disrupted by high-growth corporates like Google, Apple, and Airbnb, and by developments in financial markets. Think about the emergence of new cryptocurrencies and the (so far, unchallenged) hierarchy of Facebook as a leading social media platform. Should firms that agree to raise prices because of sustainability concerns be applauded, or fined as a cartel?

The market power of corporate organizations is based on brilliant but sometimes debatable strategies, which brings challenges to policymakers, regulators, and supervisors like the national enforcement authorities and the European Commission. How can markets and organizations function effectively, while taking into account legal and societal challenges? Why do companies behave the way they do, and to what extent is this behavior acceptable? In this highly international environment of powerful corporates and policymakers, competition, regulation, and supervision challenges require profound expertise in both economics and law to be effective. This Master's program prepares you for addressing these challenges in the present or future markets.

Bridge the Common Gap between Law and Economics

In this LLM program in Law and Economics we focus on the practical and academic toolkit to operate in the world of leading corporates, law firms, policy-making organizations, regulatory and supervisory bodies, and economic or legal consulting. You will focus on such issues as the economic and legal aspects of market regulation and supervision, competitive strategy, competition policy, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and finance and banking. You will learn from an interdisciplinary team of legal experts and economists who enhance the challenging course content with both theory and real-world knowledge. The interdependence of and useful interplay between economics and legal perspectives is the prime focus of the program and is discussed from both the perspectives of the regulator and of the regulated. As a graduate of this program, you will be uniquely prepared to bridge the gap between law and economics and contribute to addressing the relevant challenges of public and private organizations.

Real Interaction Between Two Disciplines

The unique aspect of this program is the increased interaction between students, course instructors, and professionals from both legal and economics disciplines, which is facilitated by a number of joint courses and educational activities such as guest lectures, study visits, and internships. Utrecht University’s Law and Economics professors – recognized as leading academics in their fields – investigate European as well as international regulation and governance, and offer academic and real-life insights on the most relevant regulatory challenges. We are proud to have the Utrecht University School of Economics involvement in our curriculum, which makes the program truly multidisciplinary and unique in strategy, competition, and regulation.