The conference, held from 28 to 30 August in Valencia, is regarded as the most important European platform for industrial economists.

Three Bremen Contributions in the Programme

Prof. Dr. Johannes Paha presented two papers:

• Strategic Entry Deterrence when Building Fiber Infrastructure (Johannes Paha, Gordon Klein, Phil Klotz). The study shows that parallel fiber investments by competing providers slow down network expansion - a finding of immediate regulatory relevance.

• Charging Ahead: The Impact of Funding Programs on the Charging Infrastructure in Germany (Melissa Bantle, Phil Klotz, Johannes Paha). The analysis demonstrates that public funding programs for the expansion of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles have significant effects only in a few federal states - a clear indication of the need for more targeted program design.

In addition, Wiebke Siebert presented the paper The Paradox of Price Discrimination: Competing Online Pharmacies Charge High Prices Despite Low Search Costs. The study reveals that, despite low online search costs, substantial price differences persist - with far-reaching implications for the regulation of digital markets.

The presentations attracted considerable interest and stimulated lively discussions. The Bremen team expressed its sincere gratitude for the valuable feedback and the fruitful exchange with the audience.

International Keynotes and Discussions

Highlights of the conference included the high-profile keynote lectures that addressed the major themes of this year’s program:

• Daniel Yi Xu (Duke University) opened with a lecture on market structures and productivity.

• Alessandro Bonatti (MIT) discussed “Algorithms, Data, and Digital Platforms” - a central issue in the regulation of digital markets.

• Mar Reguant (Northwestern University) focused on industrial policy, innovation, and competitiveness in the context of the energy transition.