This presentation by James Mancini from the OECD Competition Division was made during the discussion on “Market study methodologies for competition authorities” held at the 125th meeting of the OECD Working Party No. 3 on Co-operation and Enforcement on 20 June 2017. More papers and presentations on the topic can be found out at oe.cd/1ZX.

1. Presentation to WP3
20 June 2017
James Mancini

2. • Most authorities conduct some
form of market study
• Objectives include advocacy,
preparation for enforcement,
information gathering and
consumer protection
• Powers and specific use vary
widely among authorities
2
“Market studies are research projects conducted to gain an
in-depth understanding of how sectors, markets, or market
practices are working.” (ICN Market Studies Handbook)

3. 3
I.
Initial selection
of industries/
sectors
II.
Scoping and
project
planning
III.
Preliminary
information
collection
IV.
Methodology
selection
V.
Additional
information
collectionVI.
Analysis
VII.
Reporting and
outreach
VIII.
Potential
ex-post
assessment
Follow-up
studies

4. 4
I.
Initial selection
of industries/
sectors
II.
Scoping and
project
planning
III.
Preliminary
information
collection
IV.
Methodology
selection
V.
Additional
information
collectionVI.
Analysis
VII.
Reporting and
outreach
VIII.
Potential
ex-post
assessment
Follow-up
studies

5. 5

6. 6
Background
information
collection
• Begin with internal resources, high-level
research of available studies
• Guides subsequent information collection
Stakeholder
interviews
• Useful at several stages of the study
• Can inform surveys/information requests
Surveys
• Careful survey design required to achieve
objectives, avoid bias
Additional
information
collection
• Includes comprehensive regulatory scan,
purchasing data from market data providers,
mystery shopping
Information
requests
• Balance between comprehensiveness and
response rate, cooperation and compulsion

7. 7

8. 8
Suppliers/
conditions of
supply
Consumer
characteristics
Product/
service
characteristics
Distribution
chain
Firm
categories Barriers to
entry
Production
& pricing
strategies
Preferences
& behaviour
Sales &
delivery
process
Potential
market
failures
Assessing
consumer
information
Market
structure
mapping

9. 9
Price analysis
•Price comparisons
and trends
•Profitability analysis
•Price concentration
analysis
•Barriers to entry
and expansion
•Practices observed
in the sector
•Searching and
switching behaviour
•Evaluating
consumer
information and its
impact on
competition
•Regulation affecting
barriers to entry and
expansion
•Regulation affecting
market behaviour
•Quantifying impacts
Supply-
focused
Demand-
focused
Regulatory
assessment