6.3.3
Usefulness of Competition Policy & Examples
The Effectiveness of Competition Policy
The Effectiveness of Competition Policy
Competition policy is generally deemed to be effective at reducing the amount of anti-competitive play that happens in markets.
Needs high quality information
Needs high quality information
- If the information received is trustworthy, governments can take action and punish anti-competitive behaviour. This will help to improve efficiency and the allocation of resources.
- But this is not possible if not enough information is received, or if the information is unreliable.
- Also, there is an opportunity cost to collecting this information.
- This could be seen as government failure if there is no action resulting from the collation of information.
Deregulation can improve contestability
Deregulation can improve contestability
- Contestability in markets can be improved through deregulation.
- This is because barriers to entry have been lowered.
- This is good for competition in an industry.
Power of the regulator
Power of the regulator
- For firms' behaviour to be influenced by regulation, the regulator (the CMA in the UK) needs to have sufficient powers and to be well-resourced.
- The CMA's ability to impose large fines and even imprison directors of companies means that firms are likely to think twice before engaging in price-fixing or joining an illegal cartel.
Competition Policy in Action
Competition Policy in Action
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have been very active in investigating proposed mergers and potential anti-competitive behaviour by firms. They decide if a merger could lead a firm to have excessive market power.
BT and EE
BT and EE
- The CMA investigated BT's proposed purchase of mobile network EE.
- BT are also involved with telephone and internet services.
- The deal was eventually allowed to go ahead, but only after BT agreed to the CMA's suggestion that they sell off certain parts of their business to make sure that they would not be too powerful in certain markets.
Price capping
Price capping
- In the UK Utilitities industries, the respective regulators set a cap on how much prices can rise year on year based on the rate of inflation and planned levels of investment.
- The government can impose a maximum price on goods and services. This reduces the benefit to firms of constricting output to increase the price.
- Consumers can then access the goods and services at what the government deems a fair price.
1Introduction to Markets
1.1Nature of Economics
1.1.1Economics as a Social Science
1.1.2Positive & Normative Economic Statements
1.1.3The Economic Problem
1.1.4Resources
1.1.5Production Possibility Frontiers
1.1.6Specialisation & Division of Labour
1.1.7Types of Economies
1.1.8End of Topic Test - Nature of Economics
1.1.9Application Questions - Nature of Economics
1.2How Markets Work
1.2.1Rational Decision Making
1.2.2Demand
1.2.3Elasticities of Demand
1.2.4Elasticities of Demand 2
1.2.5Elasticity & Revenue
1.2.6Supply
1.2.7Elasticity of Supply
1.2.8Price Determination
1.2.9Price Mechanism
1.2.10Consumer & Producer Surplus
1.2.11Indirect Taxes & Subsidies
1.2.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Taxing Prices or Quantities?
1.2.13Alternative View of Consumer Behaviour
1.2.14End of Topic Test - Markets
1.2.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Markets
2Market Failure
2.1Market Failure
2.2Government Intervention
2.2.1Government Intervention in Markets
2.2.2Subsidies & Price Controls
2.2.3Pollution Permits & Regulation
2.2.4A-A* (AO3/4) - European Emissions Trading
2.2.5State Provision & Information Provision
2.2.6Government Failure
2.2.7End of Topic Test - Government Intervention
2.2.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Government Intervention
3The UK Macroeconomy
3.1Measures of Economic Performance
3.1.1Measuring Economic Growth
3.1.2National Income Data
3.1.3Inflation
3.1.4Causes of Inflation
3.1.5Consequences of Inflation
3.1.6Employment & Unemployment
3.1.7Causes & Impact of Unemployment
3.1.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Hysteresis
3.1.9Balance of Payments
3.1.10Current Account Deficit & Imbalances
3.1.11End of Topic Test - Economic Performance
3.1.12Application Questions Macroeconomy
3.2Aggregate Demand
3.3Aggregate Supply
3.4National Income
4The UK Economy - Policies
4.1Macroeconomic Objectives & Policies
4.1.1Possible Objectives
4.1.2Demand-Side Policies - Monetary
4.1.3Demand-Side Policies - Monetary 2
4.1.4A-A* (AO3/4) - The Future of Interest Rates
4.1.5Demand-Side Policies - Fiscal
4.1.6Demand-Side Policies in 2007-08
4.1.7Strengths & Weaknesses of Demand Side
4.1.8Supply-Side Policies
4.1.9Supply-Side Policies 2
4.1.10Conflicts Between Objectives
4.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Conflicting Incentives
4.1.12Phillips Curve
4.1.13End of Topic Topic - Policies & Objectives
4.1.14Application Questions - UK Policies
5Business Behaviour
5.1Business Growth
5.2Business Objectives
6Market Structures
6.1Market Structures
6.1.1Efficiency
6.1.2Perfect Competition
6.1.3Perfect Competition 2
6.1.4Monopolistic Competition
6.1.5Oligopolies
6.1.6The Prisoner's Dilemma
6.1.7Collusion in Oligopolistic Markets
6.1.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Which Factors Affect Collusion?
6.1.9Monopolies
6.1.10Price Discrimination
6.1.11Monopsony
6.1.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Models in Economics
6.1.13Contestability
6.1.14Benefits of Contestability
6.1.15End of Topic Test - Market Structures
6.1.16Application Questions - Market Structures
6.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Cereal Collusion
6.2Labour Market
6.2.1Demand for Labour
6.2.2Supply of Labour
6.2.3Labour Market Imperfections
6.2.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Labour Productivity & Unemployment
6.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - What Level of Unionisation is Good?
6.2.6Wage Determination
6.2.7Elasticity of Labour Supply & Demand
6.2.8Intervention in Setting Wages
6.2.9End of Topic Test - Labour Market
6.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Labour Markets
6.3Government Intervention
6.3.1Reasons for Government Intervention
6.3.2Government Promotion of Competition
6.3.3Usefulness of Competition Policy & Examples
6.3.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Modern Competition Policy
6.3.5Privatisation
6.3.6Government Regulation
6.3.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Nationalisation vs Privatisation
6.3.8Government Protection of Suppliers and Employees
6.3.9Impact of Government Intervention
6.3.10End of Topic Test - Government Intervention
6.3.11Application Questions - Government Intervention
7A Global Perspective
7.1International Economics - Globalisation & Trade
7.2International Economics - Currency
7.2.1Merged Currency
7.2.2Restrictions on Free Trade
7.2.3Arguments for Protectionism
7.2.4Arguments Against Protectionism
7.2.5Balance of Payments
7.2.6Balance of Payments 2
7.2.7Floating Exchange Rates
7.2.8Fixed Exchange Rate
7.2.9International Competitiveness
7.2.10End of Topic Test - International Economy
7.2.11Application Questions - International Economics
8Finance & Inequality
8.1Poverty & Inequality
8.2Emerging & Developing Economies
8.2.1Measures of Development
8.2.2Factors Influencing Growth & Development
8.2.3Barriers to Development
8.2.4Barriers to Development 2
8.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - The Bottom Billion
8.2.6Development Strategies
8.2.7Interventionist Strategies
8.2.8Aid
8.2.9International Institutions
8.2.10International Institutions 2
8.2.11End of Topic Test - Emerging & Developing
8.2.12Application Questions - Developing Countries
8.3The Financial Sector
8.4Role of the State in the Macroeconomy
9Examples of Global Policy
9.1International Policies
Jump to other topics
1Introduction to Markets
1.1Nature of Economics
1.1.1Economics as a Social Science
1.1.2Positive & Normative Economic Statements
1.1.3The Economic Problem
1.1.4Resources
1.1.5Production Possibility Frontiers
1.1.6Specialisation & Division of Labour
1.1.7Types of Economies
1.1.8End of Topic Test - Nature of Economics
1.1.9Application Questions - Nature of Economics
1.2How Markets Work
1.2.1Rational Decision Making
1.2.2Demand
1.2.3Elasticities of Demand
1.2.4Elasticities of Demand 2
1.2.5Elasticity & Revenue
1.2.6Supply
1.2.7Elasticity of Supply
1.2.8Price Determination
1.2.9Price Mechanism
1.2.10Consumer & Producer Surplus
1.2.11Indirect Taxes & Subsidies
1.2.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Taxing Prices or Quantities?
1.2.13Alternative View of Consumer Behaviour
1.2.14End of Topic Test - Markets
1.2.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Markets
2Market Failure
2.1Market Failure
2.2Government Intervention
2.2.1Government Intervention in Markets
2.2.2Subsidies & Price Controls
2.2.3Pollution Permits & Regulation
2.2.4A-A* (AO3/4) - European Emissions Trading
2.2.5State Provision & Information Provision
2.2.6Government Failure
2.2.7End of Topic Test - Government Intervention
2.2.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Government Intervention
3The UK Macroeconomy
3.1Measures of Economic Performance
3.1.1Measuring Economic Growth
3.1.2National Income Data
3.1.3Inflation
3.1.4Causes of Inflation
3.1.5Consequences of Inflation
3.1.6Employment & Unemployment
3.1.7Causes & Impact of Unemployment
3.1.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Hysteresis
3.1.9Balance of Payments
3.1.10Current Account Deficit & Imbalances
3.1.11End of Topic Test - Economic Performance
3.1.12Application Questions Macroeconomy
3.2Aggregate Demand
3.3Aggregate Supply
3.4National Income
4The UK Economy - Policies
4.1Macroeconomic Objectives & Policies
4.1.1Possible Objectives
4.1.2Demand-Side Policies - Monetary
4.1.3Demand-Side Policies - Monetary 2
4.1.4A-A* (AO3/4) - The Future of Interest Rates
4.1.5Demand-Side Policies - Fiscal
4.1.6Demand-Side Policies in 2007-08
4.1.7Strengths & Weaknesses of Demand Side
4.1.8Supply-Side Policies
4.1.9Supply-Side Policies 2
4.1.10Conflicts Between Objectives
4.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Conflicting Incentives
4.1.12Phillips Curve
4.1.13End of Topic Topic - Policies & Objectives
4.1.14Application Questions - UK Policies
5Business Behaviour
5.1Business Growth
5.2Business Objectives
6Market Structures
6.1Market Structures
6.1.1Efficiency
6.1.2Perfect Competition
6.1.3Perfect Competition 2
6.1.4Monopolistic Competition
6.1.5Oligopolies
6.1.6The Prisoner's Dilemma
6.1.7Collusion in Oligopolistic Markets
6.1.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Which Factors Affect Collusion?
6.1.9Monopolies
6.1.10Price Discrimination
6.1.11Monopsony
6.1.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Models in Economics
6.1.13Contestability
6.1.14Benefits of Contestability
6.1.15End of Topic Test - Market Structures
6.1.16Application Questions - Market Structures
6.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Cereal Collusion
6.2Labour Market
6.2.1Demand for Labour
6.2.2Supply of Labour
6.2.3Labour Market Imperfections
6.2.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Labour Productivity & Unemployment
6.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - What Level of Unionisation is Good?
6.2.6Wage Determination
6.2.7Elasticity of Labour Supply & Demand
6.2.8Intervention in Setting Wages
6.2.9End of Topic Test - Labour Market
6.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Labour Markets
6.3Government Intervention
6.3.1Reasons for Government Intervention
6.3.2Government Promotion of Competition
6.3.3Usefulness of Competition Policy & Examples
6.3.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Modern Competition Policy
6.3.5Privatisation
6.3.6Government Regulation
6.3.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Nationalisation vs Privatisation
6.3.8Government Protection of Suppliers and Employees
6.3.9Impact of Government Intervention
6.3.10End of Topic Test - Government Intervention
6.3.11Application Questions - Government Intervention
7A Global Perspective
7.1International Economics - Globalisation & Trade
7.2International Economics - Currency
7.2.1Merged Currency
7.2.2Restrictions on Free Trade
7.2.3Arguments for Protectionism
7.2.4Arguments Against Protectionism
7.2.5Balance of Payments
7.2.6Balance of Payments 2
7.2.7Floating Exchange Rates
7.2.8Fixed Exchange Rate
7.2.9International Competitiveness
7.2.10End of Topic Test - International Economy
7.2.11Application Questions - International Economics
8Finance & Inequality
8.1Poverty & Inequality
8.2Emerging & Developing Economies
8.2.1Measures of Development
8.2.2Factors Influencing Growth & Development
8.2.3Barriers to Development
8.2.4Barriers to Development 2
8.2.5A-A* (AO3/4) - The Bottom Billion
8.2.6Development Strategies
8.2.7Interventionist Strategies
8.2.8Aid
8.2.9International Institutions
8.2.10International Institutions 2
8.2.11End of Topic Test - Emerging & Developing
8.2.12Application Questions - Developing Countries
8.3The Financial Sector
8.4Role of the State in the Macroeconomy
9Examples of Global Policy
9.1International Policies
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