Global Competition Law

Stream Leader: Professor Deborah Healey

Competition law is about fostering competitive economies to ensure efficient production and supply of goods and services leading to benefits for consumers. It is at the centre of economic prosperity and is particularly crucial for developing economies. Government conduct has a particularly strong impact on competitive markets, in making anticompetitive laws regulations and policies, competing against private companies and  in the advantages that SOEs may have just because of their government ownership. Retreat from competition by governments following the global COVID pandemic will entrench inefficiency and anticompetitive behaviour. This stream considers both the content and implications for trade and business of competition law in China, Australia and the Asia-Pacific generally. At the same time, increasing digitisation and the power of global digital platforms has upended many traditional competition law assumptions, with many jurisdictions globally calling for reconsideration of existing competition laws and approaches. China has a relatively new competition law and its approach requires careful consideration given the high levels of trade between Australia and China. It has also taken a particular approach to dealing with digital businesses which is instructional for those doing business in China.

On-going projects in this work stream include:

• This implications of Central Bank Digital Currency on competition in financial markets
• Competition regulation in digital markets in Australia and China
• The impact of government on competition in markets, including enforcement against governments
• Implementation of Competition impact assessments in Asia and BRICS countries
• Competitive neutrality policy in China and Asian jurisdictions