Improving the monitoring indicators system to support DG Competition's future policy assessments : final report

The study to support the process of "Improving the Monitoring Indicators System to support DG Competition's Future Policy Assessments" mapped, categorised and systematised result and impact indicators used by DG Competition in 11 Impact Assessments of policy instruments concerning the policy areas of antitrust, state aid and mergers. The study identified over 500 result and impact indicators which were assessed against the RACER criteria (relevant, accepted, credible, easy to monitor and robust). 170 additional indicators were proposed to reinforce the monitoring indicators system' of DG Competition. The study also identified indicators measuring various economic, social and environmental effects of competition policy utilised by 9 other Directorate-Generals, 7 National Competition Authorities and 2 international organisations. The study identified data gaps in the evidence base for indicators used by DG Competition and a number of data collection activities were proposed. The findings of the study were supported by recommendations and advice on future action to reinforce the indicators' system and evidence base for policy assessments. The recommendations included inter alia: a more systematic approach towards the definition of objectives for policy instruments, setting up a centralised indicators database, better use of existent data sources and complemented with the use of systematic data collection and methodological tools.