David Jevons to deliver Ofcom keynote
David Jevons, Oxera partner, will deliver keynote on algorithmic pricing at Ofcom’s away day based on the 2017 Agenda article on algorithmic price setting.
Sahar Shamsi made an impact at Utility Week’s Energy Summit
A recent article by Utility Week highlighted views from Oxera Principal, Sahar Shamsi, on the evolution of energy network regulation in the UK. The following text is taken from the Utility Week website, and is used with permission. Text relating to Sahar is highlighted green below: If one thing was clear from Utility Week’s latest Annual Energy
National Infrastructure Commission—National Infrastructure Assessment
On Tuesday 10 July, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) published its first National Infrastructure Assessment. This assessment aims to take a long-term view of the needs of the UK across six sectors of the economy through a ‘long term, cross-sectoral approach’[1] and to support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK, improve competitiveness, and
Jostein Kristensen and Sahar Shamsi identified by WWL as leading players in their field
Who’s Who Legal (WWL) identified two of our team as leading ‘Energy Experts 2018’
Luxembourg Rail Protocol to save South Africa €1.3bn
Oxera has produced a study for the Rail Working Group that looks at the microeconomic benefits of the Luxembourg Rail Protocol in South Africa
Oxera advises Financial Conduct Authority on strategic review of banking
On Wednesday 27 June, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published an update on its wide-ranging strategic review of the retail banking sector. Throughout this phase of the review, Oxera has advised the FCA on the use of innovative approaches to business model analysis to shine a light on the regulator’s key areas of interest. These
Battle in the trenches? The future of ultrafast broadband roll-out in the UK
The UK government is finalising its review into the future of telecoms infrastructure, which has included a call for evidence on market and policy models to support the necessary investment. Simon Pilsbury, Regulation Director at TalkTalk Group, one of the UK’s largest broadband providers, looks at the policy agenda that the government and Ofcom should adopt in order to stimulate ultrafast broadband investment across the UK. This follows an Agenda article in April 2018 on the same topic from BT’s perspective
Mind the vGUPPI! A new approach to vertical mergers in local markets
Recent transactions involving the merging of wholesale and retail activities (most notably the Tesco/Booker merger and the Co-op/Nisa merger) have led the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to introduce a new framework for assessing vertical mergers. What is the framework of analysis of these cases, and how can the vGUPPI tool be used in the context of grocery mergers?
Four-ever? Competition remedies in the audit market
In light of recent accounting scandals, there are widespread calls for the UK competition authority to re-examine the audit market. Yet spending a substantial amount of resources on a market investigation, and concluding once again that there is a competition problem, is of little value if a suitable remedy cannot be found. A break-up of the Big Four is perceived by many as a necessary and long-awaited intervention, but is it the right solution? And if not, what would be an alternative remedy?
New rail treaty will save ‘1520 states’ €14bn
Oxera today unveiled a study for the Rail Working Group that assesses the direct microeconomic benefits from the Luxembourg Rail Protocol, which will save €13.9bn for nine Commonwealth of Independent States using the 1520 gauge. The Protocol, which is expected to come into force in 2019, is a new global treaty that will make it much easier and cheaper to finance railway rolling stock.