Publications are the most common way competition agencies disseminate information to various stakeholder groups. Publications should be written in plain language and targeted to a specific audience. They can be distributed by hand at meetings and events as part of a larger campaign,
or they can be published online where they are easily accessible.
Publications come in a variety of formats ranging from annual reports, to newsletters, to frequently asked questions, to glossaries.
Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria Commission for Protection of Competition has published a glossary of competition terms with the support of European Union experts. The Glossary was supplemented with cases of the competition authority’s practice in dealing with competition issues, illustrating the provisions of the competition act, thus making the glossary appropriate to the interests of the Bulgarian economic operators. The Glossary was distributed to the Bulgarian Business Association and The Bulgarian Chamber of Trade and Economy to be handed over to their members.
Other examples of glossaries:
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition (PDF)
- South African Competition Commission
Canada
The Competition Bureau Canada publishes technical backgrounders to enhance transparency in its investigative work. They show how the Bureau proceeded in a particular investigation and give companies and legal representatives a better idea of what to expect in a future investigation, without committing the Bureau to any particular outcome or remedy. One of the criteria in determining whether to publish a technical backgrounder is whether the release of more comprehensive information will provide useful insight or education to the business community, encouraging greater compliance with the law.
Jamaica
The Jamaica Fair Trading Commission has published Frequently Asked Questions on its Web site for various audiences, including business related questions.
Japan
The Fair Trade Commission of Japan (JFTC) has published a leaflet entitled “This is the point! The “amended” Anti-monopoly Act” which explains amendments to the Anti-monopoly Act with plain language to help businesses understand changes to the legislation. The publication uses lots of pictures, flow-charts and images.
The publication focuses on five areas:
- Increase of surcharge rate
- Clarification and expansion of scope of application of surcharge
- Introduction of leniency program
- Introduction of compulsory measures for criminal investigations
- Amendment of hearing procedure
Romania
The Romanian Competition Council publishes specialised documents and materials, making them available on the Web site and distributing them to the target groups. These include annual reports and bilingual monthly bulletins that summarize the Council’s activities.
Turkey
The Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) has published a booklet entitled “Competition, Why?” that includes the aim and main provisions of Turkish Competition law, one-paragraph summaries of selected cases regarding cartels, abuse of dominance etc., procedural charts and frequently asked questions. This 28-page publication is an important tool for business people.
United States
The United States Department of Justice has published a primer entitled “Price Fixing, Bid Rigging, and Market Allocation Schemes: What They Are and What to Look For.” (Print-ready PDF) This primer briefly describes the most common antitrust violations and outlines those conditions and events that indicate anticompetitive collusion.