Agenda Archive

How could ownership affect performance?

January 2020

In the decade since the global financial crisis, Western Europe has seen increased calls for changes in the ownership of essential service assets. For example, during the UK’s 2019 general election, the Labour Party campaigned for the nationalisation of key strategic industries such as energy, water and telecoms. We ask how ownership can affect operational incentives and outcomes, and explore the implications for current ownership models and independent regulation

Consumer vulnerability: making sense of this new ground for regulatory intervention

January 2020

In February 2019, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a major study on consumer vulnerability, which puts vulnerability firmly on the agenda of regulators and firms. Peter Andrews, Oxera Senior Adviser, considers what is driving this focus on vulnerability, what its implications are, and the principles under which the concept of vulnerability would lead to intervention

Investing, insurance or gambling?

January 2020

The distinction between investment, insurance and gambling is an essential one for policymakers and regulators. At the most basic level it is easy to see the differences between these products. But is it possible to extend the theoretical distinctions to more complex products and so give consumers clearer guidance? Fod Barnes, Senior Adviser at the UK Payment Systems Regulator, and previously a Senior Adviser at Oxera, explores the issues

RIIO-ED2 framework decision

January 2020

This note summarises the key aspects of the RIIO-ED2 framework decision; outlines the key strategic issues facing the sector that Ofgem is considering; and provides a commentary on what this means for companies, based on Oxera’s initial review of the document.