From Arthashastra to Algorithms: Data-Driven Mergers, Consumer Welfare, and the Evolution of Consumer Harm Theories in Indian and EU Competition Law

Abstract

The proliferation of data-driven mergers in India's rapidly digitising economy presents unprecedented challenges to traditional competition law frameworks, necessitating a fundamental reassessment of merger analysis methodologies and theories of consumer harm. This research examines the competitive implications of mergers where data aggregation constitutes the primary strategic objective, analysing their effects within the jurisdictional frameworks of India and the European Union while exploring the integration of traditional Indian knowledge systems with contemporary competition law analysis.