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Cartelisation in water transport sector
Financial Express, December 29, 2011
By Pradeep S Mehta
India’s
inland water transport system is also vulnerable to
anticompetitive practices. The sector is, however, yet to be
scanned through a competition lens, despite its importance
in economic activity. Given the incidences of
anticompetitive conduct that have been reported in other
countries over the years, it is difficult to expect India to
be an exception. Cartelisation in the sector would have bad
consequences on the economy as well as on the public using
the transport services, which would have an impact on
poverty. Although Competition Commission of India (CCI) has
over the years attempted to understand the nature of
competition in several potentially vulnerable markets, the
nature of competition prevailing in this sector is yet to be
explored. This calls for a more detailed focus from CCI.
More...
Set Regulators Free
Economic Times, December 26, 2011
By Pradeep S Mehta
The demand
to house the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the
proposed constitutional authority of the Lokpal is indeed
sensible in more ways than one. This will ensure its
independence. Though the CBI is a credible institution, it
often comes under the influence of the government to move,
or not, on sensitive cases involving politicians. On the
other hand, it is fortunate that the Lokpal will be a
constitutional authority, otherwise the body would have also
met the fate of several of our institutions that get
suffocated under executive fiat. Hopefully, the debate
should spur a larger discourse on ensuring independence of
our regulatory institutions for better governance and growth.
More...
Consumers united
The Kathmandu
Post, Nepal,
December 06, 2011
Consumers unite and say 'no more' to being exploited by
cartels
Financial Express, Bangladesh, December 05, 2011
Saying “no
more” to cartels
The News, Pakistan, December 04,
2011
Consumers unite against exploitation by cartels
l’ express Weekly [Friday 2 December 2011 •
Insert N° 4 L’EXPRESS YOURSELF]
By Pradeep S Mehta
The World
Competition Day being observed on December 5 in response to
a global call by the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS)
for this second year allows a scope for greater discussions
and dissemination of the beneficial effects of competition
on the average consumers - either directly or indirectly. In
effect, it is expected to result in greater public
understanding and support on the issue. This year's events
should allow stakeholders to say out loud 'No More' to the
perpetrators of cartel activities. This article urges
countries and competition agencies to stand up and protect
their consumers, against the harmful effects of cartels.
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Why We Need New Institutions
Economic Times, December 01, 2011
By Pradeep S Mehta
We have a
genuine dislike of creating new institutions for various
reasons. But as part of the creative destruction process,
should we not address ourselves to shutting down useless
organisations and creating new ones or strengthening
existing ones where there is a critical need and a
governance gap? This is not the first time that these
questions have been raised, but if we want to grow, create
jobs and posit India as a global power in the new century,
we do need to address the issues squarely, and now.
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