Browsing by Author "Karel, Annemieke"

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Open Access
An Analysis of State Aid from Europe to New Zealand
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2005) Karel, Annemieke
Where state aid is distorting competition and creating inefficiencies it should and can be (self-)regulated. The European system of external monitoring and disciplines that the countries within the European Union are agreeing to have imposed on themselves has proven to reduce state aid levels and thereby increase overall welfare. Other than those that stem from its WTO commitments New Zealand has no such monitoring mechanisms or disciplines yet does as do many other countries provide state aid in various forms across different sectors of the economy including public services. It is therefore important to understand the rationales behind the provision of different types of state aid as well as its potentially negative effects on welfare. The European experience can then function as a benchmark for New Zealand and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region when considering the design of state aid rules in the future.
Open Access
The Development and Implication of Free ISPs in New Zealand
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2003) Karel, Annemieke
The New Zealand telecommunications experience illustrates the process of competition in a market for network services characterised by technological change and minimal regulation. The story of free ISPs is merely one episode in the battle of Telecom and Clear for the New Zealand telecommunications market. It was enabled by a complex combination of regulation contractual choices and an unanticipated surge of the Internet. Despite certain static inefficiencies the free ISPs have brought a considerable number of dynamic efficiencies that should be taken into account when evaluating New Zealand's light-handed policy regime in this industry.
Open Access
The Nature of Services and the Implications for Competition Policy
(Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2004) Karel, Annemieke
Though 'services' is a very broad concept and any generalisations should be made with caution it is widely acknowledged that services differ from goods in many respects. Analyses of key elements of market structure conduct and performance and the interface between these elements show us that competition in services markets is equally distinctive. We find that traditional competition policy instruments generally do not reflect competition and performance in most services markets. Alternative policy measures should recognise the importance and disciplining power of non-price competition and the fact that quality and reputation are the main variables in services competition.