Blending incremental costing in activity-based costing systems
Allocating cost fairly across different parts of a business is a common requirement for regulatory purposes or to comply with competition law on price-setting. One popular approach to cost allocation, used in many sectors, is activity-based costing (ABC), a method that identifies the causes of cost and allocates accordingly. However,… Read More
The European growth problem and what to do about it
European growth is insufficient to improve lives in the ways that citizens would like. We use the UK as a case study to assess the scale of the growth problem, underlying causes, official responses and what else might be done to improve the situation. We suggest that capital market… Read More
Podcasts
How can and should economic regulation contribute to growth?
Will reducing or changing economic regulation kickstart our economy? As policymakers across Europe seek ways to boost economic performance, the role of regulation is under the spotlight. Should economic regulators actively promote growth, or does their core purpose lie elsewhere? In the UK, recent government pressure on regulators to support… Read More
The 2023 annual law on the market and competition: new developments for motorway concessions in Italy
With the 2023 annual law on the market and competition (Legge annuale per il mercato e la concorrenza 2023), the Italian government introduced several innovations across various sectors, including motorway concessions. Specifically, as regards the latter, the provisions reflect the objectives of greater transparency and competition when awarding motorway concessions,… Read More
Assessing the state of play of women’s football
Women’s football has been experiencing fast and sustained growth and is rapidly increasing in popularity around the world, both in terms of participation and viewership. The evidence suggests that this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. The second report in the Play Forward series… Read More
How can greater gender diversity improve business performance?
Why should businesses support gender diversity? Oxera and Business in the Community (BITC) have worked together to research the business case for gender equity and diversity. Their findings reveal that companies with higher diversity report increased sales revenue, expanded customer base, and greater profit margins than their competitors. These organisations… Read More
Switching tracks: the regulatory implications of Great British Railways—part 2
In this two-part series, we delve into the regulatory implications of rail reform. This reform will bring significant changes to the industry’s structure, including the nationalisation of private passenger train operations and the creation of Great British Railways (GBR)—a vertically integrated body that will manage both track and operations for… Read More
Cost–benefit analyses for public policy
Cost–benefit analyses (CBA) are commonly applied to public infrastructure projects where there is a degree of certainty about the physical output of the project and the consequent societal benefits. CBA can also be applied to proposed policy and regulatory changes, but there is less clarity about the outcomes and the… Read More
Switching tracks: the regulatory implications of Great British Railways—part 1
The Labour government’s plan to nationalise private passenger train operators and introduce Great British Railways (GBR) marks a significant shift in the management of the rail network in Great Britain. The stated aim of reform is ‘to deliver a unified system that focuses on reliable, affordable, high-quality, and efficient services;… Read More
Prevention instead of reaction: creating a robust funding structure for the NHS
The NHS is at a critical juncture, facing unprecedented pressures from an ageing population, rising health inequalities, and underinvestment in infrastructure. The Darzi Report underscores the scale of these challenges, highlighting the need for systemic reforms to enhance resilience and productivity. In response to the Change NHS consultation, Oxera… Read More