The role of market studies as a tool to promote competition

Paris, 1/12/16 - The 2016 OECD Global Forum on Competition discussed "the Role of Market Studies as a Tool to Promote Competition" during its second session.

Markets do not always work efficiently, harming consumers and society. When this happens, competition authorities may seek to better understand the dynamics of competition in a given market or sector, in order to identify the reasons for poor performance and recommend policy options for dealing with them.

Market studies usually involve an in-depth assessment of market structures or competitive conditions in a given sector; and aim to detect inefficiencies arising from weak competition, even if they do not identify behaviour violating competition laws. There are conceptual and procedural differences regarding market studies among competition authorities.

This hearing discussed the results of the OECD survey on market studies and how this can be categorised according to their main purpose (competition advocacy/pre-enforcement) with an overview of the triggers for each type of study. It also looked at variations in procedural and analytical methodologies to help identify practices that competition authorities can consider when undertaking market studies. Experts interacted with delegations in order to collect material that will be used to produce a manual on capacity building for market studies

Download the 2016 Forum Agenda: English • Français

Background note by the Secretariat • Note de référence du Secretariat

Detailled summary of the discussion

Global Forum website

GLOBAL FORUM SESSION DOCUMENTATION

Papers and presentations

Background note by the Secretariat

Note de référence du Secrétariat

Call for contributions | Appel à contributions

Contributions from participants

Malta

Montenegro