Many Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes are now in surplus and looking to de-risk through bulk purchase annuities (BPAs). In response, the UK government has proposed interventions to support smaller or less well-funded schemes and to encourage investment in productive finance. The Association of British Insurers commissioned Oxera to provide… Read More
As the frequency and severity of climate-related events escalate, there is a growing consensus that mitigation alone is insufficient; adaptation must play a central role in securing resilience. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) commissioned Oxera to assess how the private sector’s role in climate adaptation can be strengthened and scaled. Read More
The European Union’s new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) requires nearly all products sold in the single market to include a Digital Product Passport (DPP). These passports provide product information digitally, moving beyond physical labels to enable real-time updates and greater data accessibility. Commissioned by Amazon, Oxera’s report explores… Read More
Water UK commissioned Oxera to support its response to the Call for Evidence by the Independent Water Commission (‘the Commission’). This report—which expands on the findings of our previous study for Water UK (‘Investability in PR24’)—studies the investability challenge faced by the England and Wales water sector. The report explores… Read More
Water UK commissioned Oxera to support its response to the Call for Evidence by the Independent Water Commission (‘the Commission’). In this report, we focus on two interrelated areas: issues with the current performance framework, and how these could be addressed as part of a broader package of regulatory reform;… Read More
Interoperability plays an important role in the digital economy and can be a key driver of innovation, competition, choice and economic growth. Hardware interoperability, in particular, enables users to seamlessly connect devices from various providers, creating benefits for consumers. However, effective interoperability can be hindered by certain barriers, and is… Read More
Climate change is driving extreme weather events, with a marked 83% increase in recorded climate disasters between 1980–1999 and 2000–2019. These events disproportionately impact vulnerable regions and socio-economic groups across the world, compounding existing challenges for those already disadvantaged. The impacts of climate-related extreme weather events span a complex array… Read More
Oxera welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to provide formal guidelines in the area of exclusionary abuse under Article 102. We agree with the stated objectives to enhance legal predictability and to provide a workable effects-based approach to enforcement. In our response, we highlight a number of areas where… Read More
Regional airports in the EU play a crucial role in connectivity, serving 724 destinations and offering 14,600 routes within the EU (as of 2017). Under current state aid rules, these airports can receive operating aid if they handle fewer than 3 million passengers per year, a provision extended to 4… Read More
A well-functioning equity market is expected to offer liquidity, efficient price formation, low trading costs, innovation, and resilient infrastructure for end-investors. Since the introduction of MiFID I in 2007, concerns have been raised about the fragmentation of liquidity across multiple venues, and this has been central to much of the… Read More
