Do small developing economies, or SDEs, need a specific competition policy to create Competitive markets? Against the backdrop of globalization, protectionist policies that promote state ownership and heavy regulation of key industries are proving increasingly ineffective for driving growth. Countries around the world are instituting reforms to promote competition and business creation, yet the economic and political concentration of power, feeble judicial systems, and the scarcity of human and financial resources pose special challenges to SDEs.

Competition Policies in Emerging Economies features in-depth analysis of two strategic industries ? telecommunications and banking ? in several Central American nations, to shed light on the dynamics of the transition to deregulation and trade liberalization. Examining the lessons learned from these experiences and featuring discussion of political, legal, economic, financial, cultural, and organizational issues, the book provides unique perspectives on competition policy and economic development The book is primarily intended for decision-makers and policy analysts in international trade and economics, and will also appeal to researchers, academics, students, and professionals in institutional and development economics, international trade, and international affairs.

The editors of Competition Policies in Emerging Economies are Claudia Schatan, Chief of International Trade and Industry at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in Mexico. Eugenio Rivera Urrutia is an adviser with the Public Works Commission of Chile and consultant to the Regulating Authority of Public Services (ARESEP), in Costa Rica. The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada has financed the project "Strengthening Competition in the Central American Isthmus: National Policies and Institutions, Regional Coordination and Participation in International Negotiations" which was executed by the Economic Comimission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) between 2004 and 2006. This book is the second one published by ECLAC on competition policy which has been funded by IDRC. The first one was Competition Conditions and Policies in the Central America and Caribbean Small Economies (written in Spanish), coordinated by Claudia Schatan and Marcos Avalos (published by Fondo de Cultura Económica and ECLAC in Mexico in 2006). This book reflects the findings of more than 25 documents produced in these endeavours.

The book can be bought from Springer here . For the Spanish version, please click here.

For more information, do please contact Pedro Cote-Baraibar, Communications Co-ordinator of ECLAC Regional Headquarters in Mexico, Tel +52 55 5263 9714, pedro.cotecepal.org