Publications

	Table of Contents
p. 38 of 62 BACK | NEXT Purpose and Structure of the Toolkit Overview of Practices Controlled by Competition Law Countries with Competition Law Systems Benefits of Competition Policy Practices Controlled by Competition Law Key Concepts and Tools Competition, Privatization, and Regulation Emerging Economies Does Everyone Benefit From Competitive Markets? All Economies Suffer from Anti-Competitive Practices Competition Policy, Competitiveness and Productivity Competition Advocacy: Effective Tool Against Special Pleading Need for Merger Control Importance of Granting Resources to Competition Authorities Consumers' Empowerment Education Regional Solutions UN Conference, November 2005 Enforcement Mechanisms ADB Resources and Projects Other Resources Glossary and List of Abbreviations

Competition Law Toolkit : Emerging Economies

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D. Competition Advocacy: Effective Tool Against Special Pleading

Competition law can be an effective tool against special pleading by industry and pressure groups. In all societies, there will be powerful economic operators and pressure groups that will seek to exercise influence over the government, e.g., by seeking preferential treatment, monopoly rights, and regulated outcomes favorable to themselves. Many examples of this kind of lobbying can be found from lawyers and the liberal professions, shipowners, the newspaper industry and the agricultural community. If a powerful, robust, and independent competition authority is established, and if it is given and is able to fulfill a competition advocacy role, this can act as a very effective tool against such special pleading.

The importance of competition advocacy was discussed in Public Restrictions of Competition and Competition Advocacy.

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