London: 8 September 2009

The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced the publication of a 56 page guide titled: Government in Markets: why competition matters - a guide for policy makers.

The announcement states:

“Today's paper argues that whatever the objective for government intervention, the effects on long term market dynamics are often hidden and only manifest themselves over time. Government can affect markets either through direct participation - such as by creating public sector markets or by buying and supplying services - or through indirect participation in private markets via regulation, taxation or subsidy.”

The Guide makes a number of references to public sector information:

Section 12. Government as a supplier

In some cases Government can open up new markets by freeing up access to monopoly services – for example by making it easier for private firms to access public sector information. (Reference page 41)

Box 12.1: Commercial use of public sector information (Reference page 42)

The Chief Executive of the Office of Fair Trading in a speech to the Regulatory Policy Institute on the 7 September 2009 referred to the Guide that would be published on the 8 September 2009.

Guide Contents

• 1 Executive summary

Part A: Principles

• 2 Introduction
• 3 The role of competition
• 4 Reasons for intervention
• 5 Types of intervention
• 6 Key points for policy makers

Part B: Government interventions

• 7 Regulation
• 8 Subsidies and taxation
• 9 Government as an influencer
• 10 Government as a market maker
• 11 Public procurement
• 12 Government as a supplier

Annexe

• A A brief guide to competition and consumer law
• B References

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