Trade, development and competition

6 December 2021 | 12.00-15.00 CET Zoom

THE 2021 OECD GLOBAL FORUM ON COMPETITION WILL DISCUSS TRADE, DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITION

Competition can be a powerful force for economic development, growth and productivity. Both competition policy and trade policy can play a role in harnessing competition for these purposes, but the interaction between the two is not often considered. This may change in the years ahead, as policymakers consider how to promote development through competition in a world characterised by different economic and trading systems, as well as growing recognition of the need for a level international playing field.

In December 2021, the 20th edition of the Global Forum on Competition tried to make the link between these two policy areas, and explored where there are tensions and common ground. Some key questions that were covered included:

Should competition policy should take into account differences in economic systems or distortions in trade, and if so how?
How can competition and trade policy be used to maintain a level playing field in the wake of the COVID pandemic, which has increased interest in industrial policy and the promotion of “national champions”
Can trade policy be used to promote greater harmonisation of competition policy across jurisdictions?
Are there areas of conflict between trade and competition policy?

The session was be led by a panel of experts from both policy areas to debate these questions, and discuss with delegates in an interactive Q&A format.

Watch the replay

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Forum sessions and materials

Agenda

Keynote address by Kristalina Georgieva

Economic analysis and evidence in abuse cases

The promotion of competition neutrality by competition authorities

Global Forum home page

Speakers

Opening Session

	Mathias CORMANN Bio Secretary-General, OECD
	Kristalina GEORGIEVA Bio Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
	Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Bio ‌ Director General, WTO
	Rebeca Grynspan Bio ‌ Secretary-General, UNCTAD
	Frédéric JENNY Bio Chairman, OECD Competition Committee

Panel Session

	Joseph E. STIGLITZ Bio ‌ ‌ Professor, Columbia University Chief Economist of The Roosevelt Institute Co-founder and Co-President of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue (IPD) Co-Chair of the High-Level Expert Group on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, OECD
	Precious N. NDLOVU Bio‌ Senior Lecturer, University of the Western Cape
	Beata JAVORCIK Bio ‌ Chief Economist, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
	Simon EVENETT Bio ‌ Professor, University of St. Gallen

Global Forum blog series

#1 Trade and Competition: Best Friends Forever?

#2 What can economics contribute to abuse of dominance investigations?

#3 The important role of competition authorities in promoting competitive neutrality

Document

Paper by Precious N. NDLOVU