Competition Policy Dialogues

Experts Chart Path for Competition Policy in Economic Development

The Competition Policy Dialogues and Asian Impact Webinars convened leading experts to explore competition policy's strategic role in economic transformation. Distinguished speakers, including top economists and policymakers from ADBI, ADB, and Philippine government agencies, examined critical challenges in designing adaptive competition frameworks for dynamic markets.

At the webinar that brought over 100 participants together from public and private sectors, discussions probed key themes: cross-sector policy coordination, regulator capacity building, digital market complexities, and competition policy's pivotal role in driving economic development across Asia and the Pacific.

Product Market Regulation in Focus at the Latest CPD

The recent Competition Policy Dialogues (CPD) on October 29, 2024, emphasized the diverse applications of the OECD's updated Product Market Regulation (PMR) Indicators. The session featured a presentation on the latest PMR indicators by OECD’s Cristiana Vitale, Senior Economist and Competition Policy Expert, and a distinguished panel with Dan Andrews, Head of the OECD Economics Department’s Growth, Competitiveness and Regulation Division; Roberto Martin Galang, Dean of the John Gokongwei School of Management at Ateneo de Manila University; and Gabriele Ciminelli, Economist at the ADB Economic Research and Development Impact Department.

The discussion highlighted the PMR indicators' utility in informing policy decisions through comparative benchmarks, identification of effective solutions and best practices, assessment of policy gaps, and tracking of reform areas. When linked with other metrics, these indicators facilitate a comprehensive analysis beneficial to governments, academia, and research institutions.

Related Documents:

OECD Product Market Regulation Indicators: Taking stock of PMR reforms – Cristina Vitale
Product Market Regulation and Potential Growth – Dan Andrews
Product market regulation | OECD - All PMR-related materials
PMR indicator methodology: A detailed explanation of the methodology used to build the OECD PMR indicators
PMR report on Indonesia: Product market regulation in Indonesia | OECD

CPD Session Explores Effective Competition Advocacy

The Competition Policy Dialogues on August 28 focused on the theme "Stakeholder Engagement for Policy Success." Panelists Johannes Bernabe, Senior Adviser at the University of the Philippines College of Law and founding Commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission, and Rahat Kaunain Hassan, Senior Partner at Hassan Kaunain Nafees and former Chairperson of the Competition Commission of Pakistan, provided insightful perspectives on fostering a culture of competition.

The discussion emphasized several key areas for advancing competition advocacy: the necessity of consistent and effective law enforcement, the importance of building trust and engaging continually with stakeholders, the benefits of learning from international counterparts, and the need for publicly accessible resources.

CPD Examines Lessons Learned from Competition Reforms in Australia, Japan and the Philippines

On 23 July 2024, Bruce Gosper, Vice-President for Administration and Corporate Management of the Asian Development Bank opened the Competition Policy Dialogues, "Dynamism Down Under: Lessons From Australian Competition Reform," which focused on the transformative impact of competition policy reforms on economic growth and efficiency. In his keynote address, Hon. Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, Treasury and Employment of Australia, highlighted the role of competition reform in boosting productivity and living standards. He stressed the importance of a comprehensive strategy to navigate the evolving competitive landscape, particularly in light of advancements in artificial intelligence and technology.

During the panel discussion that followed, Hon. Andrew Leigh MP; Hon. Arsenio Balisacan, Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority of the Philippines; and Dr. Reiko Aoki, Commissioner of the Japan Fair Trade Commission, provided valuable insights from both developing and developed country perspectives with representatives from government, industry, and academia.

Competition Policy Dialogues Tackled Tech Governance

The latest installment of the Competition Policy Dialogues, held on June 13, explored the theme, Policy Efficacy in a Dynamic Marketplace: Responsive Regulation for E-Commerce. Esteemed panelists, including Mr. Keith Detros of the Tech for Good Institute; Dr. Benjamin Radoc, Jr. of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Research Academy; and Ms. Stephanie King-Chung Hung of the Asian Development Bank, delved into the intricate dynamics of policymaking in the ever-evolving realm of e-commerce, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors, inter-agency coordination, and cross-governmental knowledge-sharing. The discourse resonated with a common theme, underscoring the imperative to strike a delicate balance between promoting fair competition, safeguarding consumer interests, and nurturing a climate conducive to innovation.

Related documents:

• Policy Innovation in the Digital Age – Keith Detros, Tech for Good Institute
• Open Finance in the Philippines
• Regulatory Sandbox

Competition Policy Dialogues’ Inaugural Session Gathered Stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Competition Policy Dialogues held its inaugural session on 30 April with the theme Designing Competition Amidst the Rise of E-Commerce. ADB’s Chief Economist and Director General Albert Park welcomed over 70 webinar participants coming from the region’s government, academe, and the private sector. Moderated by Ms. Yesim Elhan-Kayalar, Advisor for Economic Research and Development Impact Department at ADB, the discussion centered on the effects of digital platforms on the business landscape and was enriched with insights coming from an esteemed panel composed of Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo of the Philippine Competition Commission; Commissioner Pattama Teanravisitsagool of the Trade Competition Commission of Thailand; and Mr. Timothy Ker of the Hong Kong Competition Commission.