What's New

 

Duty and Quota Free Market Access to LDCs — India, China must act now
The Hindu Business Line, June 13, 2007

Cement cartels: flavour of the day
The Financial Express, June 10, 2007

Speak to the people
The Economic Times, April 14, 2007

 


 

Competition Regimes in the World – A Civil Society Report

Edited by Pradeep S. Mehta

Published by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS International) in Association with International Network of Civil Society Organisations on Competition (INCSOC)

Pages : 670
May 2006 : ISBN 81-8257-064-6
Price : Rs 3000 : US$150
Web: http://www.competitionregimes.com

 

Why was India’s Ecomark Unsuccessful?

By Pradeep S. Mehta

Published by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS International)

Pages: 66
2007, ISBN 978-81-8257-084-9
Price: Rs 100/US$25

 

Towards a Functional Competition Policy For India

Edited by Pradeep S. Mehta.

Published by Academic Foundation
in Association with
Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS International), Jaipur.

Hard Back Book : Pages : 294
2006 Edition : ISBN 81-7188-493-8
Price : Rs.995.00 : USD$79.95

I. Investment & Competition Issues
Competition Regimes in the World – A Civil Society Report

This report is a compilation that maps out competition regimes around the world from the civil society perspective. It covers about 117 countries, including European Union (EU), which is a supra-national jurisdiction. Many countries covered in the report have a competition legislation in place, while there are others which do not have one, while some are in the process of adopting a competition regime. The publication is primarily based on the voluntary contributions of various International Network of Civil Society Organisations on Competition (INCSOC) members and other experts and practitioners.

The country papers in this huge compilation provide a glimpse of the competition scenario in the selected countries, and would serve as reference or resource material as well as the launching pad for taking up more analytical work in future. The report will also help the readers understand where a particular country stands vis-à-vis other countries in relation to the development of the competition regime. Thus, it would be useful for all groups of stakeholders including policy-makers, regulators, civil society members, academia and business representatives.

Pp 670, May 2006, Rs.3000/US$150, ISBN 81-8257-064-6

Web: http://www.competitionregimes.com

Towards a Functional Competition Policy For India

A Functional Competition Policy for India comes at a time when the country is poised to implement a new Competition Law, whilst there is a lack of understanding of the nature, and extent of prevalence, of different types of anti-competitive practices. The study helps in getting a better understanding of the competition and economic regulation scenario in India.

Contrary to popular perception, the study does not treat Competition Policy as just adoption and implementation of a competition law, but looks at it as a broader policy framework where competition is encouraged as a market process to generate competitive outcomes. Accordingly, the report comprises 22 chapters, giving comprehensive treatment to competition policy in India, covering both systemic as well as sectoral issues.

The study tracks the evolution of Competition Policy and Law in India; discusses the interface of Competition Policy with Government Policies (at the Federal as well as State level), and Consumer Welfare; and identifies competition and economic regulation issues in agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

The present volume is the result of the effort put in by top experts in the country. The study will be useful to all those who are interested in economic policies, in general, and competition policy, in particular.

The report itself is published as two separate volumes. An earlier published volume forms the Overview, which carries all papers in a precis form, so that a busy reader can go through them easily and get a flavour of what the issues are. The second one is the present volume — a more detailed report, carrying all chapters in greater depth, and is meant for the policy community, particularly those involved in research. The report (in either format) will serve as a curtain raiser and as a road map for future work in still greater depth.

This book can be purchased at:
http://www.academicfoundation.com/n_detail/cutsl.asp

Hard Back Book : Pages : 294
2006 Edition : ISBN - 81-7188-493-8
Price : Rs. 995.00 : USD $ 79.95

Towards a Functional Competition Policy For India – An Overview

The project report, edited by Pradeep S Mehta, comprises of 22 chapters, which highlight various systematic and sectoral issues. The report is being published as two separate volumes. One is an overview, which presents all the papers in a précis form, so that a busy reader can go through them easily and get a flavour of what the issues are. The second is a more detailed report, with all papers offered in a greater depth. The study helps in getting a better understanding of the competition scenario in India and will be useful to those who are interested in economic policies, in general, and competition policy, in particular.

This book can be purchased at:
http://www.academicfoundation.com/n_detail/cuts.asp

Pp 248, Rs. 495/US$32.95, ISBN: 817188449-0

Multilateral Competition Framework: In Need of a Fresh Approach

The issue of competition problems, both domestic and international is not new and is increasing as the world heads towards greater economic integration. Whilst countries are adopting competition laws, their capacity to deal with competition issues, which have their roots outside their borders, continues to remain an enigma.

This discussion paper identifies the relevant problems and issues, and suggests a way forward for international cooperation to deal with them. It suggests that a brand new organisation, dedicated solely to competition issues under the auspices of the UN, will be the most suitable.

pp 68, #0506, Rs 100/US$25, ISBN: 81-8257-055-7

II. Economic Regulatory Issues
Institutional Independence in India

Co-authored with TCA Srinivas Raghavan, the discussion paper entitled, ‘Institutional Independence in India’, presents a comprehensive analysis of institutional independence in India, which would facilitate cross-disciplinary learning and identification of good and bad practices.

The paper suggests that institutional independence should not be mistaken as an objective in itself, it should rather be seen as an important requisite for achieving desired effectiveness, economy, and efficiency in the system.

Pp 42, #0617, Rs 100/US$25, ISBN: 81-8257-080-8

Read More...

Capacity Building on Infrastructure Regulatory Issues (I and II edition)

The role of civil society is critical in shaping regulatory capacity. It helps in resource mobilisation and experience sharing, which, in turn, helps regulatory agencies to form a strong platform from where they can build further.

This document is intended to kick-start a debate among the stakeholders – the Government, regulatory bodies and civil society – to catalyse an appropriate regulatory environment in India.

pp 28, #0404, Rs 100/US$25, ISBN: 81-8257-020-4

III. Consumer & Social Issues
State of the Indian Consumer: Analyses of the Implementation of the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection, 1985, in India

The UN Guidelines have outlined eight areas for consumer protection, which have been translated into eight consumer rights for our discussion in this study. This report/study is meant to highlight the present status with respect to the eight consumer rights in the Indian context. The main objective of this stocktaking exercise is to help in the drafting of a National Consumer Policy and to suggest measures to be undertaken in the future for the proper implementation of the same. The report is also expected to help other countries, particularly the developing ones, in protecting and promoting consumer rights. 

Pp 218, #0103, Rs. 200/US$25, ISBN: 81-87222-21-2

Numbers At What Cost?

This publication of CUTS raises the issue of fatalities and morbidities in women as a consequence of the sterilisation operations performed during the family planning drive. This book is dedicated to those motherless children whose mothers were just numbers sacrificed at the altar of family planning; to those women who were treated with scant respect and concern at the sterilisation camps; and to those mothers who were poised between life and death due to sterilisation mishaps. It reveals many untold stories of tragic happenings.

Pp 82, #9809, Rs. 100/US$30, ISBN: 81-87222-34-4

How to Survive as A Consumer 

This book is the first in the series of publications under the serial entitled Caveat Emptor or ‘How to Survive as A Consumer’, caveat emptor being a Latin legal maxim for Buyers Beware. It aims to serve many purposes: A to Z encyclopaedia for consumer redressal; law for the layperson; invaluable reference for students, business, government, consumer courts, lawyers and consumers on Consumer Protection Act (COPRA); and Training manual on COPRA.

English: Pp316, #9808, Rs.100/US$12, ISBN: 81-87222-13-1 (Out of Stock)
Hindi: #0104, ISBN: 81-8722-41-7 (Available)

Consumer: What to do? How to do?

This manual of CUTS (or survival kit for consumers) has been written keeping this objective in mind so that those who would like to work in this field can be better informed about consumerism, consumer rights, consumer laws and formation of an organisation so that they are able to carry the consumer revolution to very nook and corner of our country. This guide is a self-teaching device for such people as well as those already in the field of consumerism.

Pp 128, 1989 by CUTS (Out of Stock)

IV. Trade and Economic Issues
Why was India’s Ecomark Unsuccessful?

Ecolabels are believed to be an important market-based instrument to influence the behaviour of consumers and industries in favour of environmentally friendly products and thus contribute to environment conservation. The efficacy of ecolabelling in inducing a market-based incentive for environment friendly production was recognised when the first ecolabelled products were launched in Germany in the late 1990s.

The objective of this Research Report is to highlight the reasons why the Indian Ecomark Scheme has not succeeded as desired. Taking the various reasons into consideration, the report makes some vital recommendations as to how the Scheme could be revived, reinvigorated and implemented to benefit consumers, producers and the society at large.

Pp. 66, #0703, Rs. 100/US$25, ISBN 978-81-8257-084-9

Read More...

Essays on the International Trading System - An Unfinished Journey, 2004

This collection of essays presents a passionate analysis of the effectiveness of the international economic system and of how economics affects the everyday lives of people in developing countries. The book offers practical suggestions on how to benefit from globalisation, without undermining it. Advocates and opponents, negotiators and students, people from the North and the South alike will benefit from this reading.

Published by Cameron May Ltd.

This book can be purchased at:
http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/cm.books/1874698694

ISBN1-87498-69-4

Bridging the Differences: Analyses of Five issues of the WTO Agenda, 2003

This book of CUTS, co-edited with L Alan Winters, is a product of the project, EU-India Network on Trade and Development (EINTAD), launched about a year back at Brussels. CUTS and the University of Sussex are the lead partners in this project. The five issues discussed in the book are Investment, Competition Policy, Anti-dumping, Textiles & Clothing and Movement of Natural Persons. This book focuses on the pros and cons of a multilateral investment for cross-border investment activity.

Pp.245, #0317, Rs. 350/US$50, ISBN 81-87222-92-1

WTO and India: An Agenda for Action in the Post Doha Scenario, 2002

This book carries an interesting foreword by Jagdish Bhagwati. It is a compilation of articles covering the pre and post Doha analysis and the international as well as the domestic agenda for India on most important WTO issues. It will help many to understand the scenario and how we can turn the Doha Development Agenda into a truly development agenda. A useful and handy reference for readers providing them with a set of practical recommendations. More particularly for the civil servants, who are new to the Trade Policy Division in the Commerce Ministry.

Pp. 198, #0214, Rs. 200/US$20, ISBN 81-87222-60-3

ABC of the WTO

This monograph is an attempt to inform the layperson about the WTO in a simple question-answer format. It is the second in our series covering WTO related issues and their implications for India. Its aim is to create an informed society through better public knowledge, and thus enhance transparency and accountability in the system of economic governance.

Pp 25, #0213, Rs. 50/US$10, ISBN 81-87222-59-X

Globalisation and India: Myths and Realities

This monograph, first in a series, co-authored with Purnima Purohit, is an attempt to examine the myths and realities so as to address some common fallacies about globalisation and raise peoples’ awareness on the potential benefits globalisation has to offer.

English: Pp 32, # 0105, Rs. 30/US$5 ISBN: 81-87222-44-1
Hindi: Pp32, #0201, Rs. 50, ISBN: 81-87222-53-0

Analyses of the Interaction between Trade and Competition Policy

This study not only provides information about the views of different countries on various issues being discussed at the working group on competition, but also informs them about the views of experts on competition concerns being discussed on the WTO platform and the possible direction these discussions would take place in near future. It also contains an analysis on the country’s presentations by CUTS.

Pp 150, #9913, Rs. 100/US$25 ISBN:  81-87222-33-6

Multilateralisation of Sovereignty: Proposals for Multilateral Frameworks for Investments

The paper co-authored with Raghav Narsalay analyses the past, present and future of investment liberalisation and regulation. It also contains an alternative draft International Agreement on Investment.

Pp 148, #9807, Rs.100/US$25, ISBN: 81-87222-14-X

Environmental Conditions in International Trade

This is a study on the impact on India’s exports in the area of Textiles and Garments, including Carpets, Leather and Leather Goods, and also in the area of Agricultural and Food Products, including Tea and Packaging, for the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.

Pp 39, # 9508, Rs. 200/US$50 ISBN: 81–87222-04 –2

All About GATT – a consumers’ perspective

This publication of CUTS helps in bringing out a primer on GATT hopes to fill a particular void. The GATT deliberations, undemocratic and unrepresentative of Third World interests as they are, merit little attention on the part of Indian intellectuals, more so since the plethora of media coverage has all the more confused the issue. Therefore, the ignorance pervading among the educated public can well be imagined. This paper is an attempt in the overall direction of creating a questioning society.

Pp 33, Rs. 30, #9301

 

© Pradeep S. Mehta