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Competition

Competition policy: Time for a reset?

 

 7 December 2020    Zoom virtual webinar

 

2020 OECD Global Forum on competition discussed "Competition Policy: Time for a Reset?"

There is a lively debate about whether fundamental changes are needed to existing competition policy frameworks. Proposals include legislative changes to capture a wider range of potentially anticompetitive mergers and conduct, to accelerate competition enforcement actions, or to enable different evidentiary standards and remedies. Others are proposing that the fundamental objectives and focus of competition policy be broadened, to include the consideration of industrial policy, competitive neutrality in trade, inequality, resilience and sustainability. These proposals are taking on new urgency as governments seek to promote growth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics of these proposals for fundamental change fear they will undermine the traditional focus of competition policy on consumers, and thus its effectiveness, suggesting that other regulators or policymakers may be better positioned to address these challenges.

In December 2020, the Global Forum on Competition sought to move this debate forward, and explored whether fundamental changes are needed to existing competition policy frameworks. The Forum opened with a keynote presentation followed by a panel discussion on this theme.

All related materials for the discussion are available on this page.

Français

‌  The first day of the Forum Live webcast on Youtuve in English and French.

» Access the 7 December English Youtube Live webcast of the first day of the Forum 

» Global Forum on Competition website

Speakers 

Opening session

 

Angel GURRÍA Bio 
Secretary General, OECD

Margrethe VESTAGER Bio ‌  
Executive Vice President for A Europe Fit for Digital Age and Commissioner for Competition, European Commission

Frédéric JENNY Bio 
Chairman, OECD Competition Committee

 

Panel session

 

William E. KOVACIC Bio
Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy; Professor of Law; Director, Competition Law Center, George Washington University


Diana MOSS
 Bio 
President, American Antitrust Institute


Damien J. NEVEN Bio 
Professor Economics, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva and
Senior Academic Advisor, Compass Lexecon


Hiroshi OHASHI Bio  
Dean, the Graduate School of Public Policy and Professor of Economics, University of Tokyo


Thando VILAKAZI
 Bio 
Executive Director of the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED), University of Johannesburg


Christine WILSON Bio  
Commissioner, US Federal Trade Commission

Global Forum blog series

This blog series is based on the 2020 Global Forum on Competition agenda and highlights some of the key issues that each session addressed.

 

#1 How can competition law tackle misconduct in digital markets?

#2 Can market studies be a more effective tool for tackling emerging competition issues? 

#3 Are digital markets bringing new challenges in abuse of dominance cases?

#4 Economising economic analysis for mergers in smaller markets

#5 How does the UK use market studies to tackle emerging competition issues?

#6 How is Mexico using market studies to tackle emerging competition issues?

#7 Economics in merger control: an invaluable tool at every step of the process

 

 

2020 Forum sessions and materials

Summary report

Programme

Commissionner's Vestagers speech

SG Gurria's speech

Executive summary with key findings

Summary of the discussion

Abuse of dominance in digital markets

Economic analysis in merger investigations

Using market studies to tackle emerging competition issues

 

 

 

Related links

Global Forum on Competition website

Competition under fire, OECD Global Forum on Competition 2019

Competition and macroeconomic outcomes factsheet

How can competition contribute to fairer societies? 2018

Gender and competition 2018

Links and drivers between competition and employment 2015

Fighting corruption and promoting competition 2014

Competition and poverty reduction 2013

Promoting competition, protecting human rights 2016

Are competition and democracy symbiotic? 2017

Competition issues in labour markets 2019 

More OECD work on Competition

OECD Competition Youtube channel

Full list of Competition Policy Roundtables

 

 

 

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