Competition Law, State-Owned Enterprises and Regional Market Integration in ASEAN

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) on the competitiveness of ASEAN and the process towards a single market, with particular reference to three ASEAN states: Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. A comparison of SOEs in these three states offers valuable insights of conflicting domestic economic interests in each state that widen the gap between commitment and achievement towards a single market in ASEAN. The paper also considers the interaction of competition law and sectoral regulation of SOEs. It proposes recommendations for a more level playing field within ASEAN in the light of challenges posed by SOEs to the competitive process by including inter alia, principles of competitive neutrality.