Advocacy and guidance for policy makers
The OFT’s competition advocacy team works to raise awareness of competition issues and advises policy makers where wider government policies affect competition and markets. It also provides advice on competition assessments of new government policies
Content on this page ...
Latest news and current research
Competition in Mixed Markets: ensuring competitive neutrality
This paper addresses the issue of competitive neutrality, the principle that there should be a 'level playing field' between public, private and third sector providers of goods and services. It summarises the possible reasons for a lack of competitive neutrality and sets out why it is an important objective to achieve. The paper also examines how Government both here and internationally have tried to address the issue of competitive neutrality.
Download Competition in Mixed Markets: ensuring competitive neutrality (pdf 560kb)
Evaluation of OFT Competition Advocacy
The OFT commissioned London Economics to conduct an evaluation of the impact of our advocacy interventions. A survey of government officials illustrates that competition advocacy is valued by those receiving the advice, often resulting in changes to delivery and, in cases, to the very objectives of the policy. The report also explores, with the help of three examples, the potential impacts of advocacy interventions and the challenges associated with the evaluation of these impacts.
Download Evaluation of OFT Competition Advocacy (pdf 1.4Mb)
Choice in public services
The Competition Advocacy team has commissioned Frontier Economics to carry out a project looking at the role of competition and choice in public service markets. The project considers the impact of introducing choice and competition into areas such as health and education, and looks at some of the key challenges facing policy makers. The report and case studies are available below:
Choice and competition in public services - a guide for policy makers (pdf 658 kb)
March 2010
Choice and competition in public services - case studies (pdf 1.31mb)
March 2010
Government in markets
In September 2009, the OFT published a summary guide on government's involvement in markets.
Download Government in Markets: a guide for policy makers - September 2009 (pdf 981kb).
This explains how government interventions can affect markets in both positive and negative ways. It provides practical advice on how interventions might be designed to minimise negative effects on competition. It covers a broad range of government interventions, including regulations, subsidies, procurement and direct public provision of goods and services.
Download the accompanying speech given by OFT Chief Executive John Fingleton. (pdf 221kb)
Competition assessment guidance
The advocacy team is responsible for overseeing the competition impact test within Impact Assessments conducted by other government departments.
Download the quickguide for competition assessments (pdf 156kb)
Download the full guidance for completing competition assessments (pdf 981b)
For advice on completing a competition assessment, please email competitionassessment@oft.gsi.gov.uk.
Advocacy research and publications
The advocacy team has published a number of reports on specific issues relating to government and markets. The full list of advocacy publications is available.
Wider advocacy work
More widely, a number of the OFT's other activities contribute to advocacy. In particular, OFT market studies frequently lead to recommendations to government. Examples include market studies into pharmacies, taxis, public subsidies, and procurement. A full list of market studies is available.
Contact us
Kate Blatchford
0207 211 8348 - kate.blatchford@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Mathieu Pearson
0207 211 8148 - mathieu.pearson@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Phil James
0207 211 5803 - phil.james@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Ed Smith
0207 211 8434 - ed.smith@oft.gsi.gov.uk
Back to: Competition Act and cartels
Recently viewed pages
This feature requires Javascript and Cookies to be enabled on your browser
Email alerts
Register for email alerts or amend your existing account details here.