Rethinking Competition Advocacy in Developing Countries

Abstract

This chapter reviews the traditional model of competition advocacy and explores its relevance to and limitations in developing countries. In particular, it examines the political challenges to competition reform in developing countries and the impact of institutional design on competition advocacy. This chapter proposes an alternative model of competition advocacy. It suggests a policy approach to competition advocacy that targets underlying anticompetitive laws and allows for the explicit consideration of the various obstacles to competition advocacy in developing countries. It discusses Australia’s experience with its national competition policy and its relevance for developing countries.

Keywords: competition advocacy, developing countries, political economy, institutions, national competition policy

JEL Classification: K21, L4, L5, O1, P26