Many competition authorities have indicated that market studies are an essential tool for accomplishing a variety of objectives, including preparing for enforcement action in a market, identifying competition problems due to regulation, or addressing consumer complaints in a transparent and thorough manner.
There is no single set of methodologies applied in every market study, as these will vary according to the study’s objective and the sector(s) being studied. Further, there are differences among jurisdictions in terms of the approaches, information gathering powers and intended outcome for market studies. However, there are opportunities for authorities to share their experiences and contribute to the body of knowledge on this subject.
In June 2017 the OECD held a roundtable to identify common techniques and good practices in selecting and applying market study methodologies, including information gathering methods, econometric modelling, financial analysis and qualitative assessments. The discussion built on a previous roundtable on the subject held in November 2008 and the OECD Secretariat’s 2015 survey on market studies.
The key findings of the discusion can be accessed here, a detailed summary here and below, all session information and materials including contributions from participating delegations and speakers.
An OECD Market Studies Guide for Competition Authorities was published in 2018.
