Investigations, Policy and Research

The Investigations, Policy and Research Analysis Division (DIPRA) of the Competition and Consumer Authority deals with investigations, research and policy issues. Competition focuses on the need to maintain fair markets in the economy by addressing anti-competitive practices or behaviour, whilst research concerns the provision of information and analytics mainly for decision making in competition matters;

The main functions of the Division are:

Competition Issues

To investigate or monitor anti-competitive conducts (restrictive trade and business practices) in the market with the aim of ensuring compliance to the Competition Act: e.g., in instances of price fixing, predatory pricing, or anti-competitive collusion by firms, DIPRA will investigate and recommend to the Authority the appropriate remedial action for the firm(s) or the industry.
To ensure compliance by enterprises to the letter and spirit of the anti-competitive or restrictive business practices provisions in the Competition Act: e.g., since incidences of anti-competitive behaviour may be reported to the Authority, the concerned enterprise(s) could be investigated to ascertain the merits of the complaint and provide necessary redress in the event of non-compliance with the Act.

Research Issues

To conduct market research, assessment, analysis of identified sectors to assist the Authority to understand market structures and identify anti-competitive practices for policy/enforcement purposes: e.g., the agriculture, construction, transport, banking and finance, sectors etc.
Each will be studied to comprehend their formations and operations, and identify or ascertain any acts of anti-competitive behaviour which the Authority would have to address. This research could involve direct interviews, or focus group discussions or diverse countrywide stakeholder consultations.
To keep abreast of local, regional and international competition trends that could effectively inform the Authority about varied industry statistics, market information or specific scenarios of market analysis for benchmarking purposes: e.g. getting information through a market surveillance programme about how other countries deal with horizontal and vertical agreements.

Market Enquiries

In order for the CCA to guard against practices that have the effect of substantially lessening competition, the Authority, time and again carries out market inquiries or surveys. The Authority may carry out a market inquiry if it has reasonable grounds to suspect that there is a restriction or distortion of competition.

An investigation may be carried out after a complaint has been reported to the Authority by an individual or business, through telephone, electronic mail, in person or any other legal means of communication. Hence the Authority will at times be pro-active or reactive when carrying out studies, depending on the urgency of the matter.

Benefits of Market Enquiries

The Authority is mandated by the Competition Act to shall publish its findings at the conclusion of an enquiry. Therefore, the community will benefit as they will get to know the likely implication of the anti-competitive practices that would have been investigated and the action taken. Basing on the results of a market enquiry, the Authority may advise the Government on some of the policies or agreements that have an adverse effect on competition.

Advocacy