The impact of M&A-driven market dominance on innovation dynamics

Prof. dr. E.J.J. Schenk MBA, UU

This research project investigates the impact of mergers & acquisitions (M&A) on the innovativeness in and of firms and industries. Should Dutch economic policies and competition authorities allow and/or encourage the creation of dominant firms, if these can rightly claim that this would foster or increase innovativeness, because of justified claims of maintaining innovativeness? Alternatively, with the creation of a dominant firm by M&A, how can innovativeness be maintained? We will, first, investigate conceptually and empirically, the determinants of innovativeness in M&A, and the forms that such efficiencies may take. We will use both enriched datasets and international comparative case studies. Second, we will derive and formulate competition policy recommendations.