Effects of enforcement
Ever since its creation in 1998, the NMa has done a tremendous amount of work. We analyze the effects of our work on a regular basis. We would like to demonstrate what our work contributes to consumer welfare. In 2010, it was €284 million. That is more than six times what the NMa cost that same year: €45.9 million.
Effects for consumers
Cartels enable companies to charge too high a price for their products. Mergers and acquisitions, too, may result in too high prices. The NMa therefore tracks down cartels, and checks whether companies do not become too big as a result of a merger or acquisition.
The enforcement actions of the NMa ensures that companies continue to compete with each other. And that they do their best to draw new customers, and to keep a lid on costs. That is why they keep coming up with better and newer products: customers get more quality. They also keep prices low: customers do not pay too much. In addition, they do not make mutual agreements regarding geographical areas in which they operate: customers are able to choose where they want to buy something.
Energy and transport
Having each and every market work well is not possible however. Examples include the rail network and energy network, where certain companies have so-called ‘natural monopolies’. In these markets, there is room for only one provider of a rail network or power grid. Having multiple, competing rail networks or power grids next to each other would be quite redundant.
That is why the NMa forces them to operate as if they had competitors, by imposing rules on them. For example, we set the tariffs that network operators are allowed to charge consumers. Or we check whether the level of service of those companies is good. And we make sure that they allow other companies to use the network under fair conditions.
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