As assessment of the Competition Commission Report and subsequent outcomes

White, P. 2014. As assessment of the Competition Commission Report and subsequent outcomes. Research in Transportation Economics. 48, pp. 277-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2014.09.053

TitleAs assessment of the Competition Commission Report and subsequent outcomes
AuthorsWhite, P.
Abstract

Following the Office of Fair Trading's review of the British deregulated bus market as a whole in 2009, the issues raised were referred to the Competition Commission. Its final report was published in December 2011. Subsequently, the House of Commons Transport Committee carried out an enquiry into the Commission's report, and reactions to it by the operating industry, user groups, and other bodies, which was published in September 2012. A number of major issues have been raised, including the extent to which price competition may be effective, the appropriate rate of return on capital that would be expected within the industry (and appropriate actions where this is excessive in practice), and industry structure. The importance of competition per se, as distinct from attributes of direct concern to users (such as reliability, frequency, and fares) has also been debated. This paper reviews the issues raised, and outcomes to date, in the light of further evidence on the industry's performance. It is demonstrated similar rates of return could be attained through very different operating strategies, which in turn have very different implications for changes in consumer surplus. The alternative uses made of such profits (for example through reinvestment) may also have markedly different impacts effects on users. Rather than focussing on the dangers of excessive rates of return on capital, the outcomes for service users should be the main issue.

JournalResearch in Transportation Economics
Journal citation48, pp. 277-285
ISSN0739-8859
Year2014
PublisherElsevier
Accepted author manuscript
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2014.09.053
Publication dates
Published07 Nov 2014
LicenseCC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Related outputs

Sick of the sick role: narratives of what ‘recovery’ means to people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
Cheshire, A., Ridge, Damien T., Clark, L.V. and White, P. 2020. Sick of the sick role: narratives of what ‘recovery’ means to people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Qualitative Health Research. 31 (2), pp. 298-308. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732320969395

Transport and Deregulation
Kremarik, F. and White, P. 2020. Transport and Deregulation. in: International Encyclopedia of Human Geography (Second Edition) Elsevier. pp. 415-420

Assessing bus rapid transit in Great Britain
White, P. and Whelan, G. 2019. Assessing bus rapid transit in Great Britain. in: Ferbrache, F. (ed.) Developing Bus Rapid Transit Cheltenham Edward Elgar.

Prospects in Britain in the light of the Bus Services Act 2017
White, P. 2018. Prospects in Britain in the light of the Bus Services Act 2017. Research in Transportation Economics. 69, pp. 337-343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2018.03.003

Interurban Bus: Time to Raise the Profile
Luke, D., Steer, J. and White, P. 2018. Interurban Bus: Time to Raise the Profile. Greengauge21.

Bus economics
White, P. 2018. Bus economics. in: Cowie, J. and Ison, S. (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Transport Economics Abingdon, Oxon, UK and New York, USA Routledge. pp. 31-47

Evaluating the long-term impacts of bus-based park and ride
Mills, G. and White, P. 2018. Evaluating the long-term impacts of bus-based park and ride. Research in Transportation Economics. 69, pp. 536-543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2018.07.028

Public Transport: its Planning, Management and Operation. 6th edition
White, P. 2017. Public Transport: its Planning, Management and Operation. 6th edition. Abingdon, Oxon, UK and New York, USA Routledge.

The Roles of ‘Conventional’ and Demand-Responsive Bus Services
White, P. 2016. The Roles of ‘Conventional’ and Demand-Responsive Bus Services. in: Mulley, C. and Nelson, J.D. (ed.) Paratransit: Shaping the Flexible Transport Future Emerald Publishing Limited. pp. 307-330

The impacts of telecommuting in Dublin
O'Keefe, P., Caulfield, B., Brazil, W. and White, P. 2016. The impacts of telecommuting in Dublin. Research in Transportation Economics. 57, pp. 13-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2016.06.010

How Do We Relate Academic Research to Current Practice and Performance?
White, P. 2014. How Do We Relate Academic Research to Current Practice and Performance? Transport Reviews. 34 (5), pp. 559-561. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2015.969134

Long-term development of express coach services in Britain
White, P. and Robbins, D. 2012. Long-term development of express coach services in Britain. Research in Transportation Economics. 36 (1), pp. 30-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2012.03.012

Potential impacts of teleworking on transport systems
White, P., Titheridge, H. and Moffat, D. 2011. Potential impacts of teleworking on transport systems. Logistics & Transport Focus. 13 (11), pp. 26-29.

Transport and Communications Cities
White, P. 2010. Transport and Communications Cities. in: Kallidaikurichi, S. and Yuen, B. (ed.) Developing Living Cities: From Analysis to Action Singapore, New Jersey and London World Scientific Publishing. pp. 107-125

Impacts of teleworking on sustainability and travel
White, P., Christodoulou, G., Mackett, R., Titheridge, H., Thoreau, R. and Polak, J. 2010. Impacts of teleworking on sustainability and travel. in: Manzi, T., Lucas, K., Lloyd-Jones, T. and Allen, J. (ed.) Social sustainability in urban areas: communities, connectivity, and the urban fabric London Earthscan.

The conflict between competition policy and the wider role of the local bus industry in Britain
White, P. 2010. The conflict between competition policy and the wider role of the local bus industry in Britain. Research in Transportation Economics. 29 (1), pp. 152-158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.retrec.2010.07.020

Potential role of time savings through teleworking
Moffat, D. and White, P. 2010. Potential role of time savings through teleworking. 42nd Annual Universities' Transport Study Group Conference. Plymouth 05 - 07 Jan 2010

Impacts of free concessionary travel: case study of an English rural region
Baker, S. and White, P. 2010. Impacts of free concessionary travel: case study of an English rural region. Transport Policy. 17 (1), pp. 20-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2009.09.002

Transport and deregulation
White, P. and Sturt, A. 2009. Transport and deregulation. in: Kitchin, R. and Thrift, N. (ed.) International encyclopedia of human geography London Elsevier.

Analysis of data from public transport smartcard systems for management and marketing
White, P. and Bagchi, M. 2009. Analysis of data from public transport smartcard systems for management and marketing. ITS(UK) Annual Conference. York June 2009

Factors behind recent patronage trends in Britain and their implications for future policy
White, P. 2009. Factors behind recent patronage trends in Britain and their implications for future policy. International Journal of Transport Economics. XXXVI, pp. 13-31.

What can we learn from recent trends in London and the PTEs?
White, P. 2008. What can we learn from recent trends in London and the PTEs? Transit.

Factors affecting the decline in bus use in metropolitan areas
White, P. 2008. Factors affecting the decline in bus use in metropolitan areas. Commissioned by pteg (Passenger Transport Executive Group).

Factors behind recent patronage trends in Britain and their implications for future policy
White, P. 2007. Factors behind recent patronage trends in Britain and their implications for future policy.

Transport for London: success despite Westminster?
White, P. 2008. Transport for London: success despite Westminster? in: Docherty, I. and Shaw, J. (ed.) Traffic jam: ten years of 'sustainable' transport in the UK Bristol Policy Press. pp. 183-203

Impacts of free concessionary travel in English rural regions from April 2006
Baker, S. and White, P. 2008. Impacts of free concessionary travel in English rural regions from April 2006. Sixth Transport Practitioners' Meeting. University of Reading 14 - 16 Jul 2008

Delivering value for money to government through efficient and effective public transit service continuity: some thoughts: response 4
White, P. 2007. Delivering value for money to government through efficient and effective public transit service continuity: some thoughts: response 4. Transport Reviews. 27 (4), pp. 432-434. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441640701192351

The role of teleworking in Britain: its implications for the transport system and economic evaluation
White, P., Christodoulou, G., Mackett, R., Titheridge, H., Thoreau, R. and Polak, J. 2007. The role of teleworking in Britain: its implications for the transport system and economic evaluation. in: Proceedings of the European Transport Conference, 17-19 Oct 2007, Leiden, the Netherlands Association for European Transport.

The uses of data from smartcard systems for public transport management
White, P. and Bagchi, M. 2007. The uses of data from smartcard systems for public transport management. Eurocontrol. Issue, pp. 47-50.

The demand for public transport: the effects of fares, quality of service, income and car ownership
Paulley, N., Balcombe, R., Mackett, R., Titheridge, H., Preston, J., Wardman, M., Shires, J. and White, P. 2006. The demand for public transport: the effects of fares, quality of service, income and car ownership. Transport Policy. 13 (4), pp. 295-306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2005.12.004

Scope for a National Travel Survey for Ireland
White, P. 2006. Scope for a National Travel Survey for Ireland. 38th Universities' Transport Study Group Annual Conference. Trinity College Dublin, Ireland 4-6 Jan 2006

Competition in public transport in Great Britain
White, P. 2006. Competition in public transport in Great Britain. European Transport / Trasporti Europei. 33, pp. 69-82.

The potential of public transport smart card data
Bagchi, M. and White, P. 2005. The potential of public transport smart card data. Transport Policy. 12 (5), pp. 464-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2005.06.008

Experience of privatisation and deregulation of the bus and coach industry in Britain
White, P. 2005. Experience of privatisation and deregulation of the bus and coach industry in Britain. in: Venezia, E. (ed.) Urban transport Milan, Italy FrancoAngeli. pp. 35-53

What role for smart-card data from bus systems?
Bagchi, M. and White, P. 2004. What role for smart-card data from bus systems? Municipal Engineer. 157 (1), pp. 39-46. https://doi.org/10.1680/muen.157.1.39.36598

Road passenger transport
White, P. 2004. Road passenger transport. in: Preston, J. (ed.) The regulation of transport in the European Union Aldershot, UK Ashgate.

The demand for public transport: a practical guide
Balcombe, R., Mackett, R., Paulley, N., Preston, J., Shires, J., Titheridge, H., Wardman, M. and White, P. 2004. The demand for public transport: a practical guide. TRL Reports. Report TRL 593, pp. 1-238.

Light rail and the London underground
Knowles, R. and White, P. 2003. Light rail and the London underground. in: Docherty, I. and Shaw, J. (ed.) A new deal for transport?: the UK's struggle with the sustainable transport agenda Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishers. pp. 135-157

Experience of national railways privatisation, and of vertical separation in metro systems
White, P. and Ball, J. 2002. Experience of national railways privatisation, and of vertical separation in metro systems. European Transport / Trasporti Europei. 20/21, pp. 76-88.

Local bus industry profitability and the role of longer-distance services
White, P. 2001. Local bus industry profitability and the role of longer-distance services. in: Grayling, T. (ed.) Any more fares?: Delivering better bus services London, UK Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 147-165

Experience in the UK bus and coach industry
White, P. 2000. Experience in the UK bus and coach industry. in: Bradshaw, B. and Smith, H.L. (ed.) Privatization and deregulation of transport Basingstoke Macmillan.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/9yqq3/as-assessment-of-the-competition-commission-report-and-subsequent-outcomes


Share this

Usage statistics

94 total views
184 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.