Research on EU Product Labelling

This study by London Economics, Ipsos MORI and AEA investigated the possibility of creating a product label which provides consumers with information about the environmental lifecycle performance of products (televisions, washing machines and light bulbs). The information may be added to the current EU Energy Efficiency label. Pan-European behavioural experiments  were used in conjunction with […]

Behavioural Biases and Consumer Detriment

International Conference on Financial Services, Hamburg, 10th May 2012

The Impact of Competition Interventions on Compliance and Deterrence – A Controlled Economic Experiment

A study by London Economics for the UK Office of Fair Trading Presentation at the University of Amsterdam, Centre for Law and Economics, Behavioural Competition and Regulation, April 19, 2012.

The Role of Packaging Imagery on Consumer Preferences for Experience Goods – Report

The Impact of Competition Interventions on Compliance and Deterrence

The research, which consisted of a survey of more than 500 large companies and 300 SMEs, as well as a small survey of specialist competition advisers in legal firms, estimates that for each abuse of dominance case, 12 potential infringements are deterred; for each cartel case, 28 potential infringements are deterred and for each commercial […]

Consumer Information on Broadband Speed and Net Neutrality Experiment

Ofcom has published the report by London Economics “Consumer information on Broadband Net Neutrality”. This study uses an economic experiment and behavioural economics to test the impact on consumers’ internet package choice of how information about packages is presented. Participants in the experiment were faced with different information frames, including the use of colour coding […]

Experimental Study on Non-geographic Calls

Ofcom has published the report by London Economics Experimental work on potential interventions in relation to non-geographic calls. The study uses economic experiments to investigate call price transparency for non-geographic phone numbers such as Directory Enquiries and customer support lines, and tests alternative regulatory interventions to improve price transparency to help consumers make more informed […]

Consumer Behavioural Biases in Competition

Consumer behavioural biases imply that consumers may not behave in the fully rational way that many economic models assume. This study assesses what impact behavioural biases can have on competition, including, how competition and pricing practices may change when consumers are biased; if lowering barriers to entry can reduce inefficiencies that arise from consumer behavioural […]

Consumer Behavioural Biases in Competition

Office of Fair Trading, May 4, 2011.

Consumer Contracts

The OFT has published the market study on problems consumers have with contracts. To inform the market study London Economics in association with YouGov completed a behavioural survey of consumers combined with an economic experiment to investigate the features of contracts that cause most problems for consumers.