UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) er ansvarlig for FN-systemets arbeid med konkurranse i markeder og håndheving av konkurransekontroll. Hvert år arrangerer de en konferanse om konkurranserelaterte spørsmål og håndheving der delegater fra et stort antall land deltar. Konkurransedirektør Tina Søreide var i år en av innlederne til sesjonen om konkurransepolitikk og bekjempelse av fattigdom (“Competition policy and poverty reduction”) i Genève 3-5. juli i år. Du kan lese hennes tale på engelsk nedenfor:
I want to address a matter of great urgency and profound importance—the alleviation of poverty through the enforcement of competition law.
Our society’s efforts in combating poverty have been commendable, yet they fall short of the mark. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) poses a critical question: Are we doing enough? The answer is complex, but one thing is clear — competition in markets is a vital piece of the puzzle.
Competition serves as a check against the accumulation of wealth among the already affluent, preventing owners from monopolizing resources. More importantly, it paves the way for others to prosper by ensuring opportunities for new firms and fostering an environment conducive to innovation.
In Norway, we have cultivated norms that champion competition. Our support of a market economy is robust, but for competition to truly flourish, there must be demand. I understand this is a major challenge in countries with a low income level, as it is difficult for the impoverished to generate such demand.
Income disparity plays a significant role here. Poverty alleviation is expedited when wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a few. Redistribution is key — it broadens the spectrum of consumers, thereby stimulating economic activity.
For competition to be fair, it must exist within a framework of equity. This requires the involvement of various authorities, including the judiciary, consumer protection agencies, financial regulators, educational institutions, and a free press.
Corruption must be rigorously controlled for competition to effectively reduce poverty. This is a matter of culture and expectations, in addition to rules and law enforcement. In Norway, norms that encourage competition are largely ingrained, which means, unequal terms quickly trigger complaints, and practices that deviate from competition, such as sole source public procurement, are generally frowned upon.
Norway, once a relatively poor country, has achieved a high level of wealth. Through consensus and collaboration, we have managed to reduce income inequality, which remains a growing concern despite being relatively low.
Our policies reflect a commitment to responsible resource management and redistribution. This includes free healthcare, education, and pension rights. In general, state-owned enterprises, exposed to competition, drive efficiency and effectiveness. Our innovation-friendly climate, bolstered by a robust social welfare system, encourages risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
Our competition control is independent and efficient, harmonized with the EU system, and we put great effort into effective merger control. This prevents large firms from stifling competition by acquiring competitors.
In Bergen, the Competition Authority, comprised of around 100 dedicated professionals, upholds these standards. We prioritize consumer welfare, which in turn, contributes to poverty prevention, especially because Norway has reached far in fostering formality in markets
In conclusion, the enforcement of competition law for poverty reduction and consumer protection are intertwined. Like other agencies, we at the Norwegian Authority constantly think of what we can do better. In that respect, we benefit hugely from dialogue with colleagues from other agencies – including in contexts provided by international organizations, such as this enriching UNCTAD-conference.