How do government policies and business practices affect the degree of competition in a given market? How does competition, in turn, affect market outcomes, such as prices, innovation and access to services?

Summarising the findings of a DFID-funded study, this paper compares the economic performance in four product markets in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Viet Nam and Zambia, and finds that the very different policy frameworks in place have a significant impact on competition, market outcomes and economic performance.