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65940-01 - Lecture: Tech Companies: Business Strategies and New Global Policy Tensions (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | John Mayo (john.mayo@unibas.ch) |
| Content | The past two decades have witnessed the emergence and growth of many new business models as firms seek to differentiate themselves on either the cost or the demand side of markets. These strategies have produced dramatic changes in the manner in which consumers acquire goods and services. They have also led to a dramatic restructuring of numerous industries, and have increasingly become the focus of US and EU antitrust authorities. This course will examine a host of novel business strategies that have permitted so-called “high tech” firms to enter markets and revolutionize the nature of competition. These strategies include both market-based and non-market-based strategies that have enabled stunning financial success of these companies. Yet, recently a growing chorus of questions has arisen regarding whether these strategies, including “zero-pricing,” purchase of nascent competitors, and “self-preferencing” are pro- or anticompetitive. The course will examine the emergence of these strategies, and their corollary policy tensions, with the goal of advancing students’ ability to discern the merits of both existing and proposed regulations governing these firms. The course will end with a “live exercise” in which students debate alternative positions regarding the merits of specific new business strategies. |
| Bibliography | See syllabus. |
| Comments | This course is part of the Summer School in Business, Law and Economic Policy. |
| Weblink | Weblink |
| Admission requirements | Solid understanding of business and economics on the bachelor level. Especially recommended for students with a major in "International Business, Trade and the Environment”. |
| Course application | Please register by sending an email to summerschool-wwz@unibas.ch no later than by 31 May 2026. The number of participants is limited. Late application is possible until the course is fully booked, but no later than the 30 June 2026. All further information can be found on the website of the Summer School. https://wwz.unibas.ch/de/studium/summer-school/how-to-apply/ |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| täglich | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 17.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Tuesday 18.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Wednesday 19.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Thursday 20.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Friday 21.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Monday 24.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Tuesday 25.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Wednesday 26.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S13 HG.35 |
| Thursday 27.08.2026 | 14.00-16.30 | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät, Seminarraum S15 HG.31 |
| Modules |
Module: Business Field: Strategy and Organization (Master's Studies: Business and Technology) Module: Core Courses in International Business, Trade and the Environment (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Field Electives in Economics and Public Policy (Master's Studies: Economics and Public Policy) Module: Specific Electives in Business and Economics (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Module: Specific Electives in International Business, Trade and the Environment (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) Specialization Module Global Europe: Globalized Trade and Business (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | Course attendance is compulsory. Attendance and good preparation are prerequisites for being a valuable participant in the class. You are expected to prepare for and attend every class and participate actively. Final grades will be determined by individual class participation (25%), group assignment (live exercise, 25%) and a final examination (50%). Date of final exam: 31 August 2026 |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Registration/deregistration: faculty |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |