Szücs, Florian, Duso, Tomaso, Seldeslachts, Jo. 2019. The Impact of Competition Policy Enforcement on the Functioning of EU Energy Markets. Energy Journal. 40 (5), 97-120.

RIS

@ARTICLE{Szücs2019,
title = {The Impact of Competition Policy Enforcement on the Functioning of EU Energy Markets},
author = {Florian Szücs and Tomaso Duso and Jo Seldeslachts},
year = {2019},
doi = {na},
volume = {40},
number = {5},
language = {EN},
pages = {97-120},
journal = {Energy Journal},
abstract = {We investigate the impact of competition policy enforcement on the functioning of European energy markets while accounting for sectoral regulation. For this purpose, we compile a novel dataset on the European Commission’s (EC) and EU member states’ competition policy decisions in energy markets and combine it with firm- and sector-level data. We find that EC merger policy has a positive and robust impact on (i) the level of competition, (ii) investment and (iii) productivity. This impact, however, only shows up in low-regulated sectors. Other competition policy tools—EC state aid control and anti-trust, as well as all member state policy variables—do not have a uniform effect on energy markets. Our findings are consistent with the idea that the EC’s merger policy actions have been used to overcome obstacles to a well-functioning EU energy sector and may have contributed to the overall development of gas and electricity markets in Europe.},
}