Limits and control of competition with a view to international harmonization

Abstract:

The collapse of so many socialist regimes and the consequent retreat from bureaucratic supply side controls of economies has allowed consumerism to develop. But the consumer needs protection and that is seen to be by encouraging free and fair competition. Not surprisingly that has been accompanied by an avalanche of legislation and regulatory controls.

This book aims to provide an up to date systematic overview of the regulatory models of 13 countries and two regional organisations. The regions are the European Community and MERCOSUR, and the countries Argentina, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the USA. Each is subjected to the same profile of analysis which looks at General Aspects, State Intervention, Private Restrictions of Competition, Specific Aspects, Merger Control and Future Harmonisation. Argentina is the exception due to the current financial, monetary and political crises that have given rise to widespread state intervention. Generally speaking all countries featured hold to the principle that economic freedom is the guiding principle of economic order.

The work will interest scholars, students and practitioners engaged in the fields of competition law and international antitrust issues.

Jürgen Basedow is Professor of Law at the University of Hamburg, Director of the Max-Planck Institute for foreign and private international law and a Member of the German Monopolies Commission.