This week the UK’s Overseas Development Institute released a report, entitled “Assessing the Economic Impact of Competition” (also discussed on the July 22 blog entry). The report discusses the findings of an ODI research project, which examined (1) how the policy framework of a country affects the degree of competition in any given product market, and (2) how the degree of competition affects market outcomes, such as price, competitiveness, innovation, and access to services. ODI conducted primary research in Zambia, Kenya, Ghana, Vietnam, and Bangladesh across four product markets: sugar, cement, beer, and mobile phone services. In addition to stating the research findings in each of these markets, the report draws interesting country comparisons of policy frameworks and market structures. The report concludes with policy recommendations for each country and a general discussion of the impact of competition on economic performance in markets.

To view the report, click here.

As a follow on to the June 30th blog post, here are several more links to agency annual reports for 2009/10.

France

Italy

UK Competition Commission

UK OFT

Poland

Luxembourg Conseil de la concurrence

Luxembourg l’Inspection de la concurrence

Switzerland

Slovak Republic

Lithuania

Turkey

The Competition Authority in Ireland recently evaluated its Cartel Immunity Programme and international developments in the area of leniency and now proposes to make certain changes. In its own words: “These changes attempt to make the Cartel Immunity Programme more self-contained, transparent and attractive to potential applicants, therefore making it a more effective tool in the ongoing fight against cartels.” The proposed revisions note the Competition Authority’s membership in the International Competition Network.

More information about the programme review, including a consultation paper that sets out the changes, is available here.

The 2010 ICN Cartel Workshop website is live, here.

“When markets don’t work – is policy or the private sector to blame?”

Tuesday 27 July 2010 at 13:00-14:30 (GMT+01 (BST))

Speakers:

Karen Ellis – Head of Business and Development Programme, ODI

Rohit Singh - Research Officer, Business and Development Programme, ODI

Discussants:- Chief Economist, DFID

Alan Winters

Chilufya Sampa – Director for Mergers and Monopolies, Zambian Competition Commission

A major ODI research project comparing the climate for competition and economic outcomes across countries, shows huge differences in market performance caused by both policy and private sector behaviour.  These differences can have significant implications for poor people as consumers, employees and taxpayers, and for wider economic growth and industrial development.  Karen Ellis and Rohit Singh will present the results of the study, which involved primary research in Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Vietnam and Bangladesh.
Key findings from the study include:

• Competitive markets can deliver dramatically better market outcomes, but market performance is often undermined by both government policy and anti-competitive business practices, with significant economic costs.
• Governments should assess and take into account the likely impact of their policy decisions on competition and market dynamics.
• Business behaviour needs to be monitored, and disciplined where necessary.Strong vested interests – an economic elite of government and big business – often oppose the creation of more open and competitive markets.  They need to be tackled by mobilising the majority of the population, who stand to gain from reform.

Places are limited. To register to attend the event, or to watch it live on video, please visit:

http://www.odi.org.uk/events/details.asp?id=2455&title=markets-dont-work-policy-private-sector-blame

Last month, Indonesia’s Commission for the Supervision of Business Competition (KPPU) celebrated its 10th anniversary. Click here for an overview of the KPPU and here for more details on a decade of competition policy at the KPPU.

Today’s links sample some of the cooperation agreements among competition agencies.

Chile
Russia
US DOJ
US FTC
EU
Nordic Cooperation
Japan
Canada
Brazil
Australia

If this blog isn’t enough for you, there’s a new kid on the block – a blog by Kluwer Competition Law. See here.

The Danish Competition Authority recently released a report that identifies and quantifies the competition culture in Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The results are based on empirical data from a qualitative survey among more that two thousands firms and several thousands consumers. The report concludes that Danish firms have a potential to increase their competitive focus and thereby strengthen the competition culture relative to firms in Germany and the UK.

A press release about the report is available here.

The full report is available here.

On June 16th and 17th, 2010 the Fair Trading Commission of Barbados conducted a training workshop on Detecting, Mitigating and Fighting Bid Rigging in Public Procurement. The workshop brought together senior public sector officials from government departments and agencies. The aim of the workshop was to sensitize all agencies involved on how to detect and prevent bid-rigging in the procurement process which occurs when businesses who submit tenders collude or collaborate to influence the tendering process. For the presentations used during the training, click here.