La Discrecionalidad en el Régimen de Compromisos de Cese Ecuatoriano: Transgresión a los Fines de la LORCPM (Discretionality in the Ecuadorian Commitment Decisions Regime: Transgression to the Goals of the LORCPM)
USFQ Law Working Papers
31 Pages Posted: 13 Mar 2022 Last revised: 5 Apr 2023
Date Written: January 11, 2022
Abstract
Spanish Abstract: Uno de los desafíos al que se enfrentan las agencias de competencia es utilizar eficientemente sus escasos recursos. Los compromisos de cese son mecanismos que ofrecen una alternativa convencional a los procesos sancionatorios tradicionales. Esta herramienta jurídica permite ahorrar recursos a ambas partes mediante medidas que cesen y subsanen los efectos de la conducta anticompetitiva. La discrecionalidad administrativa es esencial para cumplir con los propósitos del régimen. Sin embargo, en la práctica la SCPM mediante una norma secundaria se ha autoanulado esta potestad y la ha convertido en reglada. Esto ha permitido que conductas tan graves como cárteles se aprovechen de esta figura para evitar ser sancionadas. Lo cual dificulta la lucha contra cárteles y reduce la eficacia de los programas de clemencia y la delación compensada. Los bienes jurídicos protegidos por el Derecho de competencia están en riesgo al igual que el alcance de los fines de la ley.
English Abstract: One of the challenges that competition agencies face is the efficient use of their scarce resources. Commitment decisions are a mechanism that offer a conventional alternative to traditional punitive processes. This legal tool allows to save resources for both parties through measures that cease and remedy the effects of antitrust behavior. Administrative discretion is essential to comply with the purposes of the regime. However, in practice the SCPM by means of a secondary rule has canceled this power and has made it regulated. This has allowed behaviors as serious as cartels to take advantage of this mechanism to avoid sanctions. This makes it hard to fight cartels and reduces the effectiveness of leniency programs and compensated denunciation. Legal assets protected by competition law are at risk as well as the scope of the purposes of the law.
Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.
Keywords: Discrecionalidad administrativa, compromisos de cese, agencias de competencia, Derecho de Competencia, Ecuador, Administrative discretion, commitment decisions, competence agencies, Competition Law, Ecuador
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