This timely book addresses the important issue of the negative effects of anticompetitive regulation on industry and the massive economic harm it causes. The distinguished contributors, including economic and legal scholars, advocate the need for a review of all anticompetitive laws and address several industry and country case studies with the ultimate aim of providing recommendations to eliminate the impact of anticompetitive regulation.The first part of the book considers regulations affecting private business and professions, part two covers public utility and public services regulation, whilst part three discusses the role of institutions and competition authorities in relation to anticompetitive practices. The authors draft guidelines, based on economic evidence and legal arguments, which they believe would provide a starting point for the European Union to address the problem. They go on to propose possible implementation strategies for these guidelines from both an institutional and legal perspective. The book also includes a historical perspective on the evolution of anticompetitive regulation complemented by an overview of the actions currently being implemented to address and reverse the problem in other jurisdictions.

Although primarily designed to aid and assist policymakers, the multidisciplinary perspective adopted by the book means it will also become an essential companion for economists, lawyers and academics whose interests lie in the areas of regulation, deregulation and liberalization.

Giuliano Amato has been Prime Minister of Italy, Minister for the Treasury and Minister for Constitutional Reform. He is currently External Professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and Global Law Professor at the NYU Law School. In 1975 he became a Full Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Rome, School of Political Science. Professor Amato has written several books and articles on economic and political institutions, personal liberties, federalism, and comparative government. His current area of research is competition law on a comparative basis.

Laraine Laudati is a legal counsel to the European Commission and Senior Research Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. She has worked with Giuliano Amato and with Claus Dieter Ehlermann (former Director General of the European Commission's competition department) on various research projects involving economic regulation and competition law. Dr Laudati and Professor Ehlermann co-edited the Robert Schuman Centre Annual on European Competition Law from 1996-1997. Dr Laudati practised law in Washington D.C. and has published three books, along with numerous studies and articles, concentrating on E.C. competition law.