Sunk costs

Sunk costs are fixed costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered. They arise because some activities require specialised assets that cannot readily be diverted to other uses. Second-hand markets for such assets are therefore limited. Examples of sunk...

Substitutability

  Measure of the extent to which products may be seen as inter- changeable from the viewpoint of producers or consumers. A firm’s pricing policy for a specific the possibility to buy another product, which they judge as being equivalent by its nature, use and/or...

Statement of objections (SO)

Written communication, which the Commission has to address to persons or undertakings before adopting a decision that negatively affects their rights. This obligation of the Commission flows from the addressee’s rights of defence, which require that they be given the...

State measure

Law, ministerial decree, decision or other administrative act adopted by a Member State. A Member State’s omission to act may also constitute a measure. The Commission may start infringement proceedings if State measures, taken in relation to public under- takings and...

Start-up costs

Costs faced by a firm that intends to start economic activity in a specific market segment. These costs include, for example, the expen- diture to undertake research and development (R & D) activities, the costs of acquiring production and/or distribution...