About Us

This database gives you the possibility to search through the different laws of the countries and the regional integrations which implemented a competition law and framework. On the left side column you can select your navigation criteria.

Rationale of the database

To foster productivity, investment and the widely shared benefits of economic growth, it is important for countries to encourage the development of a flexible, dynamic and competitive private sector. Competition policy -- that is measures directed at reducing or eliminating public policy interventions, and private restrictive business practices that unnecessarily limit competition, entry and exit of firms -- has a critical role to play. An effective competition policy can also promote greater accountability and transparency in government- business relations, and reduce the opportunities for corruption, bribery, lobbying, and rent-seeking behavior, taking into account that Governments in most countries still account for a significant proportion of business for the private sector in areas of procurement and contracting for various goods and services. During the past decades or so over 90 countries have enacted or strengthened competition laws.  However information on their records of implementation is not well documented and is largely perceived to be uneven. Moreover the competition laws differ across the various countries in their structure, scope of application, objectives, and institutional design. The databases available for competition laws (i) are generally a compilation of laws without any analysis of their content and applicability; (ii) do not provide search tools to navigate and compare the laws and, (iii) are not sufficient to provide a clear and effective idea about how competition law is being implemented in a given country.

Overall design and structure

The analytical work of the database began with the preparation of a template of major topics that should be covered by a competition law. It was circulated and reviewed by various competition experts inside and outside the WB. The topics were divided by general, substantive, and institutional provisions which cover the following key issues:

• The identification of the specific competition law that is in force as well as its scope, such as the applicability of these laws to all or only certain sectors and the reasons some sectors excluded, for example agriculture or state enterprises?
• What are the factors that encouraged the adoption of the competition law? 
• What part of the legal system is given the responsibility of applying the competition law: is it the criminal, administrative or civil system?
• What is the content of the competition law: does it contain present provisions concerning price fixing, collusion, abuse of dominant position, monopolization or merger control regime? 
• Which is the institutional structure put in place for the enforcement of the competition law? Is the enforcement agency part of the Government or is it an independent agency insulated from political interference? How are the members of the enforcement agency selected?
• How are the investigations conducted? Are they based upon complaints or are they based on the agency’s own initiative?
• Who makes the decision that a violation of the competition law has occurred: a tribunal, a court or an independent authority? Are these decisions binding? Is a second stage of the procedure (appeals, revisions) provided for in the law and does the loosing party have access to that second stage? 
• Does the law provide for a checks and balances system? 
• What are the penalties and fines that can be imposed?  Do those measures have a deterrence effect? 
• Does the law provide for the publication of an annual report by the enforcement agency which describes the activity of the enforcement agency and its activity over the last year?
• Is a uniform standard set of definition used for the major concepts of the competition laws?

The project’s collaboration with international partners and experts in the competition field provided for a review of the content of the analysis. In particular, the data gathered for the template of a specific country is reviewed by both officials of the competition authority of the country and practitioners of competition law and.   The latter through the auspices of the International Bar Association.