Competition Advocacy Contest, 2019

The International Competition Network (ICN) and the World Bank Group are pleased to announce the launch of the 2018 – 2019 Competition Advocacy Contest. This contest aims to highlight the key role competition agencies, sector regulators and other governmental bodies or non-governmental organizations play in promoting competition by showcasing their advocacy success stories.

As defined by the ICN, competition advocacy refers to activities that promote a competitive environment through non-enforcement mechanisms, such as building relationships with government entities, increasing public awareness of competition’s benefits and identifying and removing anticompetitive policies and regulations.

They are looking for success stories from competition agencies, other public bodies or civil society that demonstrate the tangible results of competition advocacy regarding:

Theme 1: Understanding the effects of competition policy on poverty and inequality in both developing and developed countries

Increased competition can positively impact the welfare of less well-off households in their role as consumers, producers, and employees. However, the relationship between competition and poverty is complex and not always straightforward. Competition authorities and other relevant stakeholders may undertake advocacy initiatives to understand the effects of competition on inequality and poverty and to explain to the government and the public how competition policy can contribute to alleviate poverty and inequality.

Theme 2: Promoting competition as a tool to the fight against corruption and for an equal playing field among public and private players

Stronger market competition can be a powerful tool to fight corruption. Pro-competitive procurement rules in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and other rules that guarantee competitive neutrality can reduce the risk of corruption and avoid bid rigging. In addition to the clear links between the fight against bid rigging and corruption in tender processes, fierce competition gives competitors the incentive to monitor and report illegal behavior in their markets, including those associated with corruption.

Theme 3: Engaging with public and private stakeholders to better grasp competition challenges posed by fast-changing market dynamics

Competition authorities can be proactive and promote activities, also together with public and private stakeholders, to learn about the use of big data, blockchain, machine learning, artificial intelligence, as well as implications of these new technologies in areas other than competition (e.g.,for labor markets) in the new gig-economy.

Theme 4: Promoting competitive digital infrastructure, digital platforms and digital finance

Services in the digital economy require competition at various levels of the value chain: at the infrastructure and enabling technology level (e.g. ICT), at the digital platform level and at the ultimate service sector level. Finance is a key service to foster economic development and digital finance is one of the sectors with many recent regulatory developments that could benefit from a pro-competition design.

Eligibility
- Competition agencies, sector regulators and other governmental bodies or non-governmental organizations are all eligible to apply;
- Also, stories that were submitted on the earlier editions but did not get an award are still eligible to apply.

Benefits
Winners will be invited to display their stories at ICN-World Bank Seminar,and winning stories will be published in an ICN-World Bank Group Publication.

For more information, please visit the following link:
Competition Advocacy Contest, 2019