Research Catalog

Title

Product Market Competition and Economic Performance in the Netherlands [electronic resource] / Maria Maher and Michael Wise

Author

Maher, Maria.

Publication

Paris : OECD Publishing, 2005.

Details

Additional Authors

Wise, Michael.

Description

48 p.; 21 x 29.7cm.

Summary

This paper assesses what role product market competition and reforms may have played in the performance of the Dutch economy over the past decade, and discusses what further product market reforms might contribute to enhancing growth. In general, competitive pressures appear to be relatively strong in the Netherlands, particularly in the traded goods sector. Competition in product markets has been strengthened through the creation of a competition authority (NMa) and the Competition, Deregulation and Legislative Quality project (MDW). A planned reduction in the administrative burden will also help to strengthen competition, by reducing barriers to business start-ups and the expansion of small businesses, as well as lowering business costs. However, competitive pressures and productivity growth are weaker in the Dutch services sector. Planning restrictions are inhibiting competition and productivity growth in the retail sector and there is considerable scope to eliminate practices that restrict competition in professional services, even though both are relatively liberalised in the Netherlands. Reforms in electricity, gas and telecoms are recent and market power on the part of incumbent firms remains a concern. Competitive pressures in these industries could be increased by enhancing the powers of the regulators and eliminating barriers to entry.

Series Statement

OECD Economics Department Working Papers, 1815-1973 ; no.422

Uniform Title

OECD Economics Department Working Papers, no.422.

Subject

• Economics
• Netherlands

LCCN

10.1787/553342376000

OCLC

oecd-lib

Author

Maher, Maria.

Title

Product Market Competition and Economic Performance in the Netherlands [electronic resource] / Maria Maher and Michael Wise

Imprint

Paris : OECD Publishing, 2005.

Series

OECD Economics Department Working Papers, 1815-1973 ; no.422

OECD Economics Department Working Papers, 1815-1973 ; no.422.

Connect to:

Full text online available onsite at NYPL

Indexed Term

Economics

Netherlands

Added Author

Wise, Michael.

Other Standard Identifier

10.1787/553342376000 doi