Enforcement of competition law in the EU and Japan at a crossroads: an enquiry into the effectiveness of the remedies imposed by competition authorities and the role of private enforcement

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My research suggests that competition law enforcement in Japan is particularly "consensual", meaning it places a strong emphasis on advocacy, consultation, and voluntary compliance mechanisms such as commitments. This has been particularly true in digital cases such as those against Amazon, Rakuten and Apple, and in unilateral conduct cases (as opposed to cartel cases). This “consensual” approach stands in contrast to the approach in jurisdictions such as the EU and the United States, where the major cases have led to high fines and fierce court battles.My research identifies several lessons which Japan's rich experience with "consensual" enforcement holds for other jurisdictions. I have presented my findings at Japanese and international conferences and workshops (e.g. Simon Vande Walle, The Enforcement of Competition Law in Japan: All Carrots and No Sticks?, Academic Society for Competition Law (ASCOLA) Asia Workshop, 29 March 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBKzwpyuw-s).In relation to private enforcement of competition law, I have conducted an in-depth analysis of the situation in the Netherlands and Germany, two jurisdictions where private competition litigation is booming. My analysis, conducted jointly with Jannik Otto and Patrick Hauser, was published in a new research handbook on private enforcement of competition law (Research Handbook on Private Enforcement of Competition Law in the EU, Barry J. Rodger, Miguel Sousa Ferro & Francisco Marcos eds., Edward Elgar, 2023).