An assessment of selected mergers in East African community member states and their potential effects on competition in the region

Abstract: Regional integration has received increased focus as an avenue to achieving growth and economic development. The benefits of regional integration include gains from increased intra-regional trade and attracting investment to larger regional markets, realizing economies of scale and building more competitive regional value chains. Regional integration and larger regional markets also imply increased competition between firms across countries, the promotion of lower consumer prices, more innovation and improved quality of products and services. Regional integration also means that competition issues need to be evaluated at the regional level. In the African context, the East African Community (EAC) is one of the leading regional economic communities (RECs). It has also established the East African Competition Authority (EACA). The role of this institution includes evaluating mergers that have a regional impact...M.Com. (Competition and Economic Regulation