A Comparative Analysis Of The Ethiopian Competition Law Enforcement Institutional Framework

Abstract

The quality of the enforcement framework of competition law determines the efficiency of trade competition in a market economy. To be effective in supporting the development process, competition law and policy need to be supported and compatible with other complementary pro-development policies that can bear on economic development. A spectrum of factors – including social, economic and political environment – dictate the choices for competition provisions and enforcement design. Moreover, the priorities adopted by governments in terms of budgetary support, manpower availability and political support are key determinants of agency effectiveness. States would want to exercise their policy space to adapt their competition laws and enforcement institutions to local conditions the purpose of this study is to analysis Ethiopian competition law enforcement institutional framework. The thesis findings demonstrate that the legal regime and enforcement of Ethiopian competition law suffers with many practical problems, based on a comparative doctrinal examination. The country has been experiencing various competition abuses and enforcement gaps. Ethiopia is beset by a number of barriers to competition. There is an urgent need for an effective competition law and policy in Ethiopia. However, owing to various market characteristics and legal and enforcement difficulties, it is much harder to implement competition law and policy in Ethiopia than in developed countries. Some of these factors include large informal sectors, problems relating to small size and large barriers to entry, difficulties in instilling a competition culture, and capacity and political economy constraints. It is therefore important for Ethiopia to tailor its competition law and its implementation within these constraints. A possible way forward is that Ethiopia should develop a tailormade competition law and policy and its enforcement framework