Winner of the 2022 Concurrences PhD Award in Competition Law, Dr Xue Bai (Sophia) has just published her thesis, ‘Reform of Chinese State-Owned Enterprises: What China Can Learn from the Practice of Competitive Neutrality Policy in Australia’ (2023). The Award recognises and publishes two of the best theses on specific topics in competition law and economics. The publication of Dr Bai’s thesis as a book by Concurrences is the prize, Concurrences is a leading independent international legal publisher focused on antitrust law and competition law economics.
Dr Bai’s book examines whether China, a nation that hosts very many state-owned enterprises (SOEs), can effectively maintain level a playing field through its existing competition law and policy framework and, if not, what strategies it might adopt to address this issue. It contains a detailed examination of the evolving position of SOEs in the Chinese market.
Dr Bai’s research highlights the necessity of a competitively neutral market environment. Studies have shown that in the absence of a neutral environment, SOEs can rely on their government ownership to take business from more efficient firms in the market. This poses a danger as a market that allows less efficient firms to survive is less likely to ensure goods and services are delivered at the lowest possible cost.
For everyday consumers, competitive neutrality is also important as it can improve the quality, range and prices of goods and services available in the long run. Through examining the effectiveness of China’s competition law and policy framework in the context of SOEs, Dr Bai provides policy recommendations that take into consideration the unique Chinese economic and political structures and focus on ensuring China’s long-term economic efficiency and social development by prioritising competition in the market.
Dr Bai’s thesis/book can be accessed via subscription here.
Dr Xue Bai’s research may be found at LinkedIn and on the CIBEL website.