Product Market Competition and Economic Performance in Finland

[摘要] Following the deep recession in the early 1990s growth has been strong, but the scope for economic catch-up remains considerable and cross-country empirical evidence suggests that enhancing competition is an important means of achieving this. Structural reforms to strengthen competition in the early 1990s did boost growth and were also ahead of similar developments in the EU. However, indicators suggest that relatively weak competition remains in a number of sectors. Moreover, potential competition is reduced by a sparse population and relative long distances to large markets, which together with the prevalence of local monopolies and public ownership in many network industries, point to the need for greater vigilance to sustain and promote competition. Further reforms to promote product market competition should focus on fundamental changes in the regulatory approach as well as more incremental measures to intensify competition. The competition authority should concentrate ...

[发布日期] 2004-12-20 [发布机构] Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

[学科分类] 社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

[关键词] public ownership;public procurement;productivity and growth;regulatory reforms;network industries;competition law;product market competition;Finland;retail sector