The growing importance of state-owned enterprises (SOE) in the global marketplace has given rise to concerns about how to ensure competitive neutrality – a level playing field – where public and private entities compete. The book aims to serve as a resource for governments that intend to ensure that public and private businesses compete on equal terms. It provides a catalogue of relevant practices and experiences in OECD and other jurisdictions. The publication is structured around eight “building blocks” of competitive neutrality including how to ensure debt, tax or regulatory neutrality; calculating market consistent rates-of-return; transparent accounting for public service obligations; and competitive procurement. It also provides practical experience on how to coin a policy commitment to competitive neutrality and tradeoffs of different approaches. The book provides insights on fundamental questions concerning the role of the State in the marketplace and on the need to balance commercial interests with the sometimes important public policy functions vested in SOEs.
Table of contents:
Executive Summary PART I. INTRODUCTION -Concepts and Definitions Applied in this Report -The Economic Rationale for Pursuing Competitive Neutrality -Main Challenges in Obtaining Competitive Neutrality PART II. ASPECTS OF COMPETITIVE NEUTRALITY Chapter 1. Streamlining the operational form of government business -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 2. Identifying the costs of any given function -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 3. Achieving a commercial rate of return -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 4. Accounting for public service obligations -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 5. Tax neutrality -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 6. Regulatory neutrality -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 7. Debt neutrality and outright subsidies -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action Chapter 8. Public procurement -The challenge and reality in OECD economies -OECD sources -Options for remedial action PART III. OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION BASED ON NATIONAL PRACTICES -Approaches to competitive neutrality -Redress and remedial action Bibliography
