Adding a Warning Label to Rewheel’s International Price Comparison and Competitiveness Rankings

Abstract

Rewheel, a Finnish consultancy, periodically issues reports that it portrays as international competitiveness comparisons of retail prices for mobile wireless services across the globe. However, these comparisons are not accurate representations of the state of competition in the mobile wireless world. In these reports, Rewheel assigns providers and countries international ranks and labels competitive/non-competitive. While the internet is a fabulous means of communications, the Digital Fuel Monitor by Rewheel/research is a prime example of online misinformation. To curb the spread of false information, social media platforms have started applying warning labels to content they believe the facts do not support. Still, far too many false claims have attracted attention because separating fact from fiction often requires specific expertise. Given the many theoretical and practical flaws and errors contained in the Rewheel study, the authors find it of no value when comparing prices internationally or establishing the level of competition in a country. A warning label informing readers about the lack of intellectual rigor and the misleading and incorrect nature of the Rewheel study’s results is appropriate and recommended.

Keywords: price comparison, competition analysis, 5G, international price ranking, mobile wireless market, mobile wireless competition, mobile wireless prices, Rewheel, Digital Fuel Monitor, telecommunications

JEL Classification: D00, D40, D43, L1, L4, L96, L98