Continuous evaluation is important

It is important that competition authorities evaluate their activities regularly so that priority is given to the right measures. This is the conclusion drawn by Professor Steven Davies in a research report prepared by him on the assignment of the Swedish Competition Authority.

In order to correctly prioritise resources between merger control, cartel detection and monitoring of dominant firms, it is important for a competition authority to continuously work with evaluation, writes Stefan Davies, Professor, University of East Anglia, in a research report commissioned by the Swedish Competition Authority.

He also emphasises that comprehensive and public evaluations are the means by which the State can measure whether it is getting value for the tax funds applied within the area of competition.

Such evaluations also constitute an aid for a competition authority when following up cases already concluded.

Steven Davies recommends a number of different methods be used for the evaluation of a competition authority.