The competition policy community often focuses on the actions of companies, but the state may also adopt measures that significantly distort the competitive landscape. In the run-up to the 2021 Global Forum on Competition, the OECD’s Jordi Calvet Bademunt and Sophie Flaherty analyse how state intervention can affect competitive neutrality and the main tools available to competition authorities to help ensure a level playing field.

Any investigation by competition authorities of an alleged case of abuse of dominance by firms with substantial market power will be informed, at least in some part, by economics. OECD’s Richard May explores the role economics plays in competition enforcement and highlights some of the complexities and options relating to its effective use in the run-up to the 2021 Global Forum on Competition.

Should competition law take sustainable development goals into account and, if so, how can this be done? Julian Nowag highlights that many competition authorities are already addressing these questions and posits that sustainability and competition goals may not necessarily be in conflict ahead of the 2021 OECD Competition Open Day discussion on the topic.

Jill Walker shares her views on economic analysis in merger investigations, emphasising the broad role economists can play.