Biography

“A smart and effective competition authority is an integral part of a well-functioning market economy,” says Assistant Professor of Strategy Matt Schmitt. “It keeps firms honest while not overburdening them with regulation — strengthening incentives for firms to innovate and create value.”

Schmitt is a health and industrial organization economist who earned his Ph.D. in managerial economics and strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His research primarily examines competition and antitrust issues in health care markets.

“Business practices are constantly evolving,” he says. “Antitrust analysis of these practices is often extremely nuanced and complex, especially in health care, where there are several different layers of decision makers, all with potentially competing objectives. My research seeks to better understand the economics of these situations and whether policy may have a role to play in improving outcomes.”

Schmitt’s current projects include studies of competition between multihospital systems, cost savings from hospital mergers, copayment coupons for prescription drugs and “reverse payment” patent settlements.