Are you feeling the financial pressure of the rising cost of everyday essentials? From grocery store shelves to the petrol pump, price gouging casts a shadow over many of our lives. But who is responsible and what can be done about it?

Dig into the heart of the matter with expert economist, Professor David Byrne. Join him to discuss why big players are able to dominate industries leaving little room for competition, and how we might fight back.

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Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.

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Professor David Byrne
Digital and Resource Economist, University of Melbourne

David Byrne is a Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne. He conducts research in industrial organisation and behavioural economics, using data to detect market power and uncover where it comes from to inform competition policy. His investigations have spanned various industries, including petroleum, water, electricity, telecommunications, healthcare, banking, and gambling. Currently, he is examining how digital platforms, Big Data and algorithms affect market power and how digitisation and market design can help create resource conservation at scale.

His work has been published in leading economics journals, including the American Economic Review and Quarterly Journal of Economics. His publications have been cited by governments worldwide, such as in the 2023 Economic Report of the President of the United States. He received the 2023 Young Economist of the Year Award from the Economic Society of Australia for his research and policy work.

David is also an associate editor of the International Journal of Industrial Organization, an executive committee member of the Asia-Pacific Industrial Organization Society and European Association for Research in Industrial Economics, a member of Australia’s National Economic Panel and the European Commission’s Competition Network, and an affiliate of the Centre for Market Design, Melbourne Economic Forum, Melbourne Energy Institute, and e61 Institute.

David is originally from Nova Scotia, Canada. He received his PhD in 2011 from Queen’s University and BCom (Hons) from Mount Allison University. He moved to Melbourne after finishing his PhD and has since become a major supporter of the Collingwood Magpies Football Club and women’s cricket.

The 2024 Annual Giblin Lecture is brought to you in partnership with the Economic Society of Australia, Tasmania Branch, and the University of Tasmania.

Dollars and Sense: Exposing unfair pricing

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