Competition Policies and Consumer Welfare: Corporate Strategies and Consumer Prices in Developing Countries

The fundamental goal of competition law is to support productivity and innovativeness; in fact, the short-term effect of enforcement actions is often a reduction in product prices. This comprehensive book reports the findings of consumer market studies into a range of goods and services in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

These country case studies demonstrate the important role that competition authorities can have in assessing the nature of markets and making recommendations to policymakers to improve them. When competition is weak or compromised, extra costs are imposed on consumers. The authors investigate this issue for a wide range of key markets serving consumers individually or collectively, looking also at the hinterland of the distribution chain behind retail sales. They find a pervasive lack of competition in those markets, which not only softens the incentives on firms to improve the efficiency of their operations and the quality of their products, but also reduces the standard of living of consumers, including poor and vulnerable groups. This book concludes by noting the follow-up actions taken in each country in response to the research recommendations.

Graduate students of economics, political science and law will find this book invaluable for its practical case studies, and analysts will find much interest in the nuanced analysis of markets, policy interventions and reform options. Emminently practical, Competition Policies and Consumer Welfare is an ideal resource for competition practitioners and policymakers seeking to improve current competition regimes.