Market Studies
There are times when the law can have a considerable impact on the way in which a market operates, including the normal process of competition.
If the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is concerned about the effect existing regulations are having on competition, they are able to report on these to the Government. Typically, this is likely to be as part of an OFT market study.
BERR's Role
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has a general interest in OFT's market studies and co-ordinates Government responses where those studies make regulatory recommendations. Consideration of regulatory and policy issues is a matter for the relevant Department.
BERR works closely with other other Government departments to make sure that the Government's response to a study report takes account not only of competition and consumer interests but wider public policy objectives.
The links on the left cover market studies where BERR has played an active role. Visit the OFT web site for a full list of studies currently in progress.