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OVERVIEW OF THE CREW PROJECT
Competition Reforms In Key Markets
For Enhancing Social & Economic
Welfare In Developing Countries
Rijit Sengupta
CUTS International
NRG-1 Meeting
Accra (Ghana), 6th August, 2013
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Outline
• Introduction & Background
• Project Progress & Planned Activities
• Role of National Reference Group Members
• Overview of Research Methodology
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I. Introduction & Background
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1. Goal & Objectives
Goal
To better demonstrate measurable benefits from effective
competition reforms in DCs, for ensuring long-term support
for competition
Objectives
• Enhance understanding of benefits from competition
reforms in DCs (consumers & producers)
• Develop & test a methodology to assess efficacy of
competition reforms in benefitting consumers and
producers in specific markets
• Advocate to key actors (National & International) for
greater support to competition reforms in key markets
• Sustain momentum on competition reforms and take it
forward
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2. Outputs & Outcome
Outputs
• Documented evidence of benefits from competition
reforms in key markets
• Dialogues involving multiple stakeholders on benefits of
competition reforms in DCs
• Strategy for capacity building of DC competition
agencies and sector regulators
• Framework (Tool) for monitoring and evaluating the
process of competition reforms in DCs
• Demand from elsewhere (other sectors and/or countries)
for similar exercise
Outcome
Greater attention and impetus for competition reforms in
key DC markets
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3. Phases of the Project
• Phase I (Diagnostic Phase): Assess implications of
competition reforms in specific markets; identify benefits
and causes of existing consumer & producer concerns –
RESEARCH & CONSULTATIONS
• Phase II (Design Phase): Design a composite
methodology to quantify (actual & potential) benefits of
competition reforms– DESIGN & CONSULTATIONS
• Phase III (Validation Phase): Test the veracity of this
methodology in micro-locations in project countries; and
use results for advocacy – ADVOCACY & PUBLIC
EDUCATION
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4. Indicators of Consumer Welfare
• Access: Have the reach of goods and services to
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consumers in areas where they were not available earlier
(distributive efficiency)?
Quality/Price: Are better quality goods and services
available for consumers? Have prices increased
appreciably of such good/services?
Choice: Are new products available to consumers? Are
new firms entering the market offering more variety?
Price: Have prices changed, either increased or
decreased?
Time savings: Do offered goods and services help save
time for consumers?
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5. Indicators of Producer Welfare
• Access to essential services: Are firms able to easily
access public service and infrastructure networks (e.g.
electricity, water, etc.)?
• Free movement of goods and services: Is mobility
affected by policies, practices (inputs & outputs), or
infrastructure constraints?
• Predictability of regulatory actions: Are legislations
enforced by autonomous yet accountable institutions?
• Cost savings: Have new innovation, such as improved
ICT tools, lead to reduction in costs?
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5. Indicators of Producer Welfare (contd.)
• Fair market processes: Are new firms able to enter the
market easily, and existing firms able to close business
effectively?
• Level-playing field: Is the principle of ‘competitive
neutrality’ observed between private/public enterprises?
• Transparency in market: Do market regulators have well
laid out policies and predictable implementation
processes?
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6. COUNTRIES & SECTORS
Countries: Ghana, India, The Philippines & Zambia
Sectors: Staple Food & Passenger Transport
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7. Definition of Consumer & Producer
Welfare (Sector-Specific)
STAPLE FOOD
CONSUMER
WELFARE
PASSENGER TRANSPORT
- Availability of good quality
- Availability of good quality transport
staple food.
services to ordinary consumers within
- Change in prices of staple food
city (intra-city) to get to workplace,
for ordinary consumers
markets, college/university on a daily
basis & also on busy inter-city routes
- Change in prices
PRODUCER
WELFARE
- Participation of private entities
- Access to road networks for a new
in procurement, storage and
player (operator) in a specific
distribution of staple food
geographic market for providing such
- Change in prices of inputs and
services
outputs
- Change in bus fares
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8. Project Actors
Program Level (CUTS)
• Implementation Team
• Project Advisory Committee (PAC)
Country Level
• Country Partner Organisation
• Sector Experts
• National Reference Group (NRG)
• National Entities: Competition/Sector Regulator, Business
Associations, Research Organisation/CSO, Media
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II. Project Progress & Planned
Activities
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1. Project Progress (Nov ‘12 to July ‘13)
• Commencement and Planning Meeting: Nov 2012
• Inception Meeting (Mar ‘13): Countries & Sector selection
• Review of literature & Fact Finding 4 Countries
• Opening Meeting in project countries: Apr-May ‘13
• Outline of Diagnostic Country Report (DCR)
• DCR Research Methodology July 2013
• Review of DCR Methodology (by PAC) July –Aug ‘13
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2. Planned Activities (Aug 13 to Jan 14)
• Finalise the DCR Methodology (country-specific)
• Initiate the secondary research and analysis
• Develop and execute the primary data collection and
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anlysis
Draft Country-Specific DCR (a section each on selected
sector) – mid-Nov ‘13
Partners’ Meeting + PAC Meeting (Nov 2013)
NRG to review DCR findings and discuss (NRG-2)
meeting – early Dec ‘13
DCR to be finalised: mid-Jan 2014
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III. Role of NRG Members
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1. National Reference Group
• Multi-stakeholder group of experts and practitioners
• Composed of competition scholars, practitioners and
sectoral stakeholders
• The group would comprise about 15 members in each
country
• Meet periodically to discuss project progress and issues
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2. Role of NRG Members
• Guidance and support in project implementation
• Inputs in designing components of research
• Review important project documents - Diagnostic Country
Report (DCR), Framework for Competition Promotion
(FCP), etc.
• Access to country-specific institutions for data (literature,
statistics, market environment, etc.) and contacts for
advocacy and outreach
• Participate in project meetings
• CREW findings would help them in their own work agenda
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3. NRG Meetings & Timelines
Phases
NRG
Tentative
Timeline
Purpose
I
NRG –I
July, 2013 •Provide project orientation & update
• Discuss Conceptual Framework (Phase-I)
• Inputs on DCR Methodology (countryspecific)
I
NRG-II
October,
2013
•Discuss Draft DCR
•Discussion on DCR findings and
refinements
II
NRG-III
January,
2014
• Orientation on common findings of the final
DCR
• Discussion on development of Framework
for Competition Promotion
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3. NRG Meetings & Timelines (contd.)
Phases
NRG
Tentative
Timeline
Purpose
II
NRG-IV
July, 2014
•Presentation of the sector specific
FCPs
• Discussion on the FCP for fine
tuning and refinement
III
NRG-V
Nov, 2014
•Presentation of the final FCP
•Planning of country-specific
implementation of FCPs
III
NRG-VI
May, 2015
•Discussion on the findings of the
FCP after implementation (Impact
Analysis)
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IV. Overview of the Research
Methodology
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1. Project Phases
The project would be implemented over three phases as
described earlier and presented below:
(i) Diagnostic Phase: RESEARCH &
CONSULTATIONS
(ii) Design Phase: DESIGN & CONSULTATIONS
(iii) Validation Phase: OUTREACH & PUBLIC
EDUCATION
Diagnostic
Design
Validation
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2. Conceptual framework: Phase I
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3. Steps to Undertaking Diagnostic Research
Two components: SECONDARY LIT. & INFO + PRIMARY
DATA
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Scanning and identification of reforms impacting the
two markets – staple food (maize) and passenger
transport (bus)
Documenting the evolving state of competition in these
markets (understanding prominent changes over time)
Implications of competition or market reforms on
consumers and producers (benefits or damages –
using indicators)
Evidence of existing consumer and producer concerns
Gathering feedback/input about remedies, and
estimating possible benefits therefrom
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Step-1: Scanning and identification of
competition (market) reforms
• Identify reforms undertaken in each of the two markets
over time (using an appropriate reference point)
• Reforms could comprise:
(i) Government policy
(ii) Legislation
(iii) Statutory Instrument
(iv) Sectoral programmes
(v) Administratove practices
• Establish the basket of relevant reforms to be considered
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Step-2: Assess state of Competition in Markets
Look at the following elements (Porter’s Five Forces Analysis)
• Structure of market and nature of competition in the industry
• Potential of new entrants into industry
• Power of suppliers
• Power of customers
• Threat of substitute products
Some additional elements (Competition Assessment Framework, DFID)
 Identifying government policies, institutions limiting competition
 Look for anti-competitive conduct
 Consider vested interests and the principal beneficiaries
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Step-3: Implications of reforms on
consumers and producers
• Gather both secondary and primary information
• Review of relevant secondary literature (reports, etc.) and
information (govt. data sources) to assess
benefits/damages of key government reform actions
• Gather primary data (perception) based on survey,
interview and FGDs from consumers and producers
• Employ QUALITATIVE (case study) and QUANTITATIVE
methodologies (ex-post approach) to assess implications
• Analyse both secondary and primary data to answer
research questions, and document in report
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Step-4: Evidence of consumers and
producers concern & Remedy
Addressing concerns
• Review secondary information to identify existing
consumer and producer concerns in the two sector
• Gather primary data (perception) based on survey,
interview and FGDs from consumers and producers
• Isolate common (bottom-up) suggestions for addressing
concerns
Estimating benefits
• Employ QUALITATIVE (case study) and QUANTITATIVE
methodologies (ex-ante approach) to assess benefits of
suggested measures
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4. Stakeholder mapping and feedback
collection
Staple Food (Maize)
Identify stakeholders across supply chain, covering
(i) Production – Farmers, Input suppliers
(ii) Procurement – procurement agency
(iii) Storage – storage service provider
(iv) Processing – millers
(v) Marketing - traders
(vi) Distribution - consumers
Transport
• Intra-city & Inter-city: (i) passengers, (ii) operators, (iii)
government officials, (iv) regulators
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MEDASI!
www.cuts-ccier.org/CREW
Email: rsg@cuts.org