
Competition Policy in a Globalized, Digitalized Economy
Features of many digital platforms have led competition authorities to rethink traditional tools. In doing so, they have taken diverse views of the consumer welfare standard and the abili...
Globalization and digitalization necessitate updated international economic rules and enhanced global coordination. New business models and technologies have provided numerous benefits but raised some competition concerns. As economies become more digitalized, governments look to modernize rules on taxing firms and activities appropriately. Existing international rules on subsidies, state-owned enterprises and government procurement need reform to deliver a global, level playing field.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic heightens these challenges and introduces new considerations. As governments intervene to shelter workers and firms from the economic fallout, stakeholders must insist on transparency. As consolidations and mergers rise in the sectors worst affected, consumer benefits must be maximized and harms minimized. Increased use of digital technologies during and, potentially, after lockdowns will prompt governments to rethink regulation concerning them.
This project explains and contextualizes these issues for government and business leaders, brings together diverse stakeholders to challenge prevailing notions, and provides policy recommendations. It covers:
- Subsidies and industrial policy: how to pursue economic and social goals while providing a competitive global playing field for market- and state-driven enterprises
- Competition and globalization: how to preserve the benefits of global and digital business, while avoiding anti-competitive harm
- Tax and globalization: how to tax fairly in a recovering, globalized, digitalized economy
Features of many digital platforms have led competition authorities to rethink traditional tools. In doing so, they have taken diverse views of the consumer welfare standard and the abili...
As countries seek to reform international corporate tax rules to address these issues, this paper supports informed debate among non-experts. It has been produced with the input of a dive...
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are important actors in all economies and key to policies for inclusive growth, innovation, productivity and job creation. However, they tend to ...
The global economy is characterized by international production networks, where firms operate through trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and strategic partnerships. While internationa...
Women have been drawn into global value chains (GVCs) at every level. The expansion of GVCs has changed the gender pattern of work across production, distribution and retail in most consu...
This paper highlights the disconnect between the modern global economy and an outdated international tax framework and provides some suggestions for how tax policy could better promote su...
Anti-competitive behaviour can affect the smooth functioning of global value chains (GVCs) in different ways and at various stages. The international nature of production networks, multin...
With new data revealing the extent of services’ contribution to global value chains, there has been greater policy interest in what drives services competitiveness. This paper traces the ...
Given the important role of multinational enterprises (MNEs), attracting foreign direct investment is a key concern for countries keen to join value chains. This paper explains why increa...
This paper examines two questions that arise at the intersection of environmental sustainability and global value chains. The first relates to trade and other barriers to the smooth funct...
The Global Value Chain Policy Series was launched in 2018 by the World Economic Forum’s System Initiative on Shaping the Future of International Trade and Investment. It consists of brief...
As digital trade takes off, how do we regulate and tax remote businesses? Look no further than our digital tax and trade explainer for a discussion of the key issues.
How can countries really reap the economic and social benefits of global value chains, while avoiding inequality and environmental damage?