Competition and Regulation Times. November 2013.

Abstract

• Title: It's a knock-out! Abstract: Stimulating the private sector to invest in government-led research is a ticklish business. Jyh-Bang Jou and Tan (Charlene) Lee investigate. Author: Jyh-bang Jou, Tan Lee
• Title: ISCR conference, a participant's perspective Abstract: In August this year Dougal Tylee participated in the ‘Public-Private Partnerships: Building Infrastructure for the Future’ conference in Wellington, which was hosted by the ISCR and sponsored by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). He outlines his thoughts from the conference. Author: Dougal Tylee
• Title: Bundle of Joy? Abstract: The pricing of television is taken as given in New Zealand. But internationally, regulators and competition authorities have begun to think about the effects that different pricing structures have on viewers and competition in television markets. Konrad Hurren outlines a pricing structure known as bundling, explains why firms use it, and ponders what it means for television viewers and content providers. Author: Konrad Hurren
• Title: Banking on too much of a good thing? Abstract: One of the difficult questions facing regulators in the financial sector is how much banking competition to allow. In most industries, increased competition increases social welfare. But banking regulators see the banking industry as different. They believe that excessive competition may put the banking system at risk, a belief that underlies the recent restrictions on mortgage lending introduced by the New Zealand Reserve Bank. Ronald Fischer explores the connections between banking competition and economic stability. Author: Ronald Fischer
• Title: Price perversities in primary health care Abstract: The processes for assessing acceptable increases in patient fees paid to New Zealand primary health care practices are inconsistent with the government’s subsidy policy intentions. Bronwyn Howell explains why. Author: Bronwyn Howell
• Title: A Latin lens on energy markets Abstract: Stanford University’s Frank Wolak looks at the pros and cons of Latin-American-style cost-based dispatch and pricing on short-term energy and operating reserve markets. Author: Frank Wolak
• Title: Meditating on market mechanisms Abstract: In policy debates, ‘the market’ and ‘the government’ are pitted against each other almost inevitably as diametrically opposed means of mediating economic transactions. There must be only one ‘winner’, to whom all the spoils (or at least the credit for generating them) accrue. But, as Bronwyn Howell points out, there’s another way of viewing this. Author: Bronwyn Howell