Improving international competition order. An institutional approach

Abstract:

The WTO labours constantly in seeking resolution to disagreements surrounding international trade but its powers do not extend to cases involving foreign competition policy. This book aims to expand the debate for an improved international competition order on the basis of a scientific approach based on ‘law and economics’.

The work is organised over five chapters following a brief introduction. Chapter one presents the dominant concepts of competition policy as a basis for an international competition order, and the ideas floated in this chapter serve as a guideline to the discussions developing in later chapters. Antidumping measures as an instrument of international competition politics are closely examined in chapter two, which suggests some alternative and improved measures. Chapter three explores the potential for international competition policies in reaching the goal of fair international competition able to provide for an optimal international allocation of resources and wealth. Chapter four summarises the discussion on reform and highlights the difficulties arising from the weakness of the WTO authority. Chapter five considers the politically feasible improvements to current competition regulations and offers strategies that might serve as second-best solutions.

The work will interest scholars and students, practitioners, researchers and policy makers in the fields of international trade, international competition rules, and economics.