Comparative Approach to ASEAN Competition Policy and Law

The ASEAN Regional Guidelines on Competition Policy was created to be a common framework for competition policy, which includes competition law and its enforcement for all ASEAN Member States. Implementing the ASEAN Regional Guidelines on Competition Policy is an important tool for achieving the goals of the ASEAN economic integration by level playing field for all market participants to create fair competition environment, which help turning ASEAN into highly competitive economic region and facilitate trade liberalization in ASEAN.These are considered the ultimate opportunities in implementing the Guidelines among ASEAN Member States. However, this study found that Guidelines cannot fully function because there are impediments in implementing the Guidelines in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam. This dissertation divides these impediments into five main groups, namely competition policy, competition law, enforcement, competition advocacy and international cooperation. This study found that some impediments faced in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam are quite common, particularly having weak competition culture and the conflict between competition policy and trade policy and industrial policy. While other impediments are found only in some countries such as inexperienced and inadequacy of resources in competition authorities to deal with complex competition cases being found in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Political intervention in the enforcement of competition law can be seen in Thailand and Vietnam. The main source of these impediments in implementing the Guidelines is some competition standards in the Guidelines are contradict with the national interest and vested interests of these AMSs. These impediments in the implementation of the Guidelines in these four ASEAN countries obstruct the operational function of this Guidelines and reduce the expected opportunities. This study found that there are three necessary factors that can bring about the operational implementation of the Guidelines, which are political will, AMSs prioritizing and complying with the ASEAN regional competition commitment, and the existence of competition awareness among all stakeholders in the society, including governments, competition regulatory bodies, businesses and consumers. These factors can mutually make the implementation process of the Guidelines operational.? To create these three crucial factors, changing the perception of AMSs from considering only national interest to common interest of all AMSs and ASEAN as a whole is required. Considering only national interest is the main source of impediments in implementing the Guidelines; thus, it is necessary to consider the common interest, which is what all AMSs and ASEAN will get from achieving the goals of ASEAN economic integration. Considering the common interest will be a good incentive for all AMSs to create the willing in implementing the Guidelines. ASEAN Member States also need to develop the domestic competition law and enforcement to be consistent with the framework of the Guidelines to ensure that competition laws in all AMSs are operational and effective to facilitate the achievement of ASEAN economic integration: competitive economic region and ASEAN liberalization, single market and production base

Diminishing Enforcement: Negative Effects for Deterrence of Mistaken Settlements and Misguided Competition Promotion and Advocacy

Independence in Competition Policy and Enforcement

Policy Report: Priority Setting in EU and National Competition Law Enforcement

The Interface between Ec Competition Law and the Competition Laws of the New Member States: Implementation or Innovation?

This book provides a clear overview of the main issues in EC competition law and policy and an up to date text for students and practitioners with an interest in this subject. It is divided into three main parts, looking at the foundations of EC competition law, anti-competition agreements, abuse of dominant position, and the enforcement of EC competition law. The book focuses on the two main Treaty Articles which are concerned with competition law. It aims to provide a structured analysis of the main stages in the application of the EC Treaty rules on competition, assesses the contribution made by the Commission and Community judicature to the evolution of EC competition law, and provides an in-depth analysis of recent developments, in particular the moves towards decentralisation in the field of vertical restraints and in enforcement.

Practical Guide to Applying Behavioral Economics To Competition Policy and Law In Developing Economies

Integrating Public and Private Enforcement of Competition Law in Europe -- Legal and Jurisdictional Issues

For a competition agency to be visible and successful, it needs a face and a voice that are known and recognised beyond its remit as an authority in competition advocacy and sound economic judgement. Until not so very recently, it would have been unusual for the President of a national competition authority in the European Union (EU) to be well known beyond its jurisdiction. An exception to this rule—in the past—may have been the case of Italy, where a former Prime Minister was appointed as President of the authority in 1994. But even a number of years later, it would have been rare for competition law practitioners in a given country to be acquainted with the policies of other national competition authorities, let alone their staff. With the installation of the International and the European Competition Networks, this has now changed and this is, in particular, the merit of a small number of very well-known and charismatic personalities at the top of these agencies. One of these outstanding competition chiefs is Prof. Jacques Steenbergen, the President of the Belgian competition authority. He has now turned 65, and for this occasion, his friends and colleagues have put together an impressive Festschrift, which is called Mundi et Europae Civis. In recognition of Steenbergen’s exemplary professional track record as a leading academic, a private practitioner, a legal secretary at the European Court of Justice, and from 2007 onwards as the head of the Belgian competition authority, a further subtitle of the book in 21st century parlance could have been: Curriculum portarum versatilium. The 19 pages of bibliography collating the publications of Jacques Steenbergen place on record that competition law practice should not be isolated from other legal disciplines. Jacques Steenbergen has contributed articles on topics as varied as corporate restructuring, product liability, consumer protection, foreign trade law, constitutional law as well as on all aspects of Belgian and EU competition law. With hindsight, an article published in 1984 sounds almost prophetic: ‘The Court of Justice and governance in an Economic Crisis’, which Steenbergen co-authored with Mertens de Wilmars, the then President of the European Court of Justice. In the last almost 10 years of his professional career as the head of the Belgian competition authority, Steenbergen has been instrumental in making this authority an important hub in the network of European competition authorities, always somewhat of a primus inter pares given it’s not only geographic proximity to the European Commission. Three contributions in the Liber Amicorum authored by Bruno Lasserre, Andreas Mundt, and Wouter Wils are dedicated to this topic. There are further contributions on the institutional role of a national competition authority by Roger Witcomb on the situation in the United Kingdom as well as by Chris Fonteijn and Annetje Ottow on the independence of competition authorities from a global and from a Dutch perspective. The book provides an excellent panopticum of most of the current topics around competition policy and practice as well as other key issues on the EU political agenda such as political governance in the Euro crisis (contribution by Frans Vanistendael) and of the challenges of a new trade policy (contribution by Hugo Paemen). Other articles cover issues of procedure such as the contribution by Koen Lenaerts on the interplay between regulation number 1049/2001 and competition law-specific rules on access to documents alongside the contribution by Piet Van Nuffel on whether confidential business information enjoy the specific protection of a fundamental right. The book takes a keen interest in the prospective development of competition policy and practice into new areas of the law such as the inter relationship between sustainable development and competition law (articles by Jan Wouters/Laura Beke, David D’Hollander/ Kolja Raube, and Rene Smits). The book is rich in linguistic variety with articles in English, in French, and also in the Dutch language. It is an important source of reference and an ideal lectuur for a relaxing yet edifying extended weekend in the Hautes Fagnes.

Technology Protection and Competition Policy for the Information Economy. From Property Rights for Competition to Competition Without Proper Rights?

The determination of the legitimacy or illegitimacy of exchanging consumer financial information under EU competition law finds its roots in a traditionally controversial and grey area of competition law enforcement. In addition, the financial services sector has been historically protected from the logics and application of competition law, which only relatively recently has featured importantly in the competition policies and law enforcement of the EU and its competent authorities.

Bork, in the Antitrust Paradox States: 'Only When the Issues of the Goals [Of Anti Trust Law] Has Been Settled is it Possible to Frame a Coherent Body of Substantive Rules' - Discuss with Respect to the Goals of United States and European Union Competition Law

Chapter 1 - Introduction to Competition Law 1.1 The economic background to competition law 1.2 The function of competition law 1.3 The market 1.4 Competition law and the economic theory of regulation 1.5 Various systems of competition law Literature Chapter 2 - The basic structure of competition law 2.1 Some key concepts in the application of competition law 2.2 The combined system of UK and European competition law 2.3 The scope of application of competition law Chapter 3 - The prohibition of anti-competitive agreements 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The prohibition of cartels 3.3 Voidness 3.4 Block exemptions 3.5 Other exceptions from the prohibition of cartels 3.6 Some important types of anti-competitive agreements Chapter 4 - The prohibition of the abuse of positions of economic power 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The prohibition of the abuse of a position of economic power 4.3 Postscript: the Commission's Discussion Paper on Exclusionary Abuses under Article 82 EC Chapter 5 - Control of concentrations 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The key elements of the EC Merger Regulation 5.3 Merger control in the UK system: the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission Chapter 6 - The Application and Enforcement of Competition Law 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The application of competition law by the courts 6.3 Competition procedure and enforcement under UK law 6.4 Enforcement of EC competition law 6.5 Leniency policy 6.6 Judicial protection in EC competition law 6.7 Division of competence and co-operation between the Commission and the UK authorities (OFT and CC) Chapter 7 - Competition Law and the State 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The rules for public undertakings and undertakings with exclusive or special rights 7.3 The norm of Articles 3(1)(g), 10, 81 and 82 EC 7.4 How to assess conduct in mixed situations? 7.5 EC state aids law: a general introduction Chapter 8 - The international dimensions of competition law 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The geographic scope of application of EC and UK competition law 8.3 International agreements 8.4 Relevant concepts Chapter 9 - Epilogue 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Themes in competition law 9.3. Objectives of EC Competition law and policy 9.4. Does competition law do the job? 9.5. Antitrust procedure 9.6. Fundamental rights 9.7. Block exemptions 9.8. Fostering general Community policies? 9.9. Remedies 9.10. Liberalisation of the closed 9.11. Public service obligations 9.12. Extraterritorial application of EC competition law and international co-operation in the competition law field 9.13. Merger Control 9.14. Article 82 EC 9.15. Articles 3(1)(g) and 10 EC 9.16. Article 86 EC 9.17. Role of national courts 9.18. Harmonisation 9.19. Centralisation & Decentralisation of EC competition law 9.20. Regulation 1/2003/EC 9.21. Competition between Legal Orders 9.22. Targeted sectors and/or issues 9.23. Accession 9.24. Conclusion

Contents: Introduction Mor Bakhoum PART I: PROMISES AND CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING REGIONAL COMPETITION POLICY REGIMES 1. The Harmonization of ASEAN: Competition Laws and Policy from an Economic Integration Perspective Lawan Thanadsillapakul 2. Competition Law and Policy in the Framework of ASEAN Anthony Amunategui Abad 3. Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Competition Policy Gladmore Mamhare 4. Competition Policy in SADC: A South African Perspective Kasturi Moodaliyar PART II: INSTITUTIONAL COHERENCE, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND COMPETITION POLICY 5. Institutional Coherence and Effectiveness of a Regional Competition Policy: The Case of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Mor Bakhoum and Julia Molestina 6. Regional Integration and Competition Policy in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Region Mbissane Ngom 7. Andean Competition Law: Looking for the Private Sector, or the Quest for the Missing Link in Antitrust Javier Cortazar PART III: ECONOMIC STRUCTURE, REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND COMPETITION LAW ENFORCEMENT 8. Regional Integration in the Caribbean: The Role of Competition Policy Taimoon Stewart 9. Implementing Effective Competition Policy through Regional Trade Agreements: The Case of CARICOM Delroy S. Beckford 10. The COMESA Regional Competition Regulations George K. Lipimile PART IV: THE DEVELOPMENT DIMENSION OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND COMPETITION POLICY 11. Economic Integration and Competition Law in Developing Countries Josef Drexl 12. Regionalization, Development and Competition Law: Exploring the Political Dimension David J. Gerber 13. Competition, Development and Regional Integration: In Search of a Competition Law Fit for Developing Countries Eleanor M. Fox 14. Regional Agreements of Developing Jurisdictions: Unleashing the Potential Michal S. Gal and Inbal Faibish Wassmer Index

Contents: Preface PART I: ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF COMPETITION LAW 1. Are People Self-interested? The Implications of Behavioral Economics on Competition Policy Maurice E. Stucke 2. Consumer Choice as the Best Way to Recenter the Mission of Competition Law Robert H. Lande 3. Protecting Consumer Choice: Competition and Consumer Protection Law Together Neil W. Averitt 4. Is Competition Law Part of Consumer Law? Paul L. Nihoul PART II: INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES 5. Resale Price Maintenance: A Reassessment of its Competitive Harms and Benefits Marina Lao 6. The Leegin Case: A US Antitrust Chief Event versus a Storm in a European Teacup? Josef Bejcek 7. Competition Law Issues Concerning Related Markets and their Treatment under EU Competition Law Thomas Eilmansberger 8. A Comparative Look at the Competition Law Control of State-owned Enterprises and Government in China Deborah Healey 9. Australia's Criminalization of Cartels: Will it be Contagious? Caron Beaton-Wells PART III: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND COMPETITION LAW 10. Patent Ambush Strategies and Article 102 TFEU Andreas Fuchs 11. Three Statutory Regimes at Impasse: Reverse Payments in Pay-for-Delay Settlement Agreements between Brand-name and Generic Drug Companies Rudolph J.R. Peritz 12. Patent Ambush and Reverse Payments: Comments Gustavo Ghidini 13. Intellectual Property in Competition: How to Promote Dynamic Competition as a Goal Josef Drexl 14. Industrial Standards and Technology Pools: A Regulatory Challenge for EU Competition Law Steven Anderman PART IV: PROMOTING COMPETITION POLICY NATIONALLY AND ACROSS BORDERS 15. International Antitrust Solutions: Discrete Steps or Causally Linked? Michal S. Gal 16. Penumbras of European Union Competition Law: External Governance, Extraterritoriality, and the Shifting Borderlands of the Internal Market Clifford A. Jones 17. The Role of Non-governmental Organizations in the Development of Competition Law Albert A. Foer Index