OECD Competition Assessment Reviews: Romania
During the past few years, Romania has recovered well from the global financial crisis. However, the country still faces structural problems, including poor competitiveness, that limit economic growth. Against this background, the OECD Competition Assessment Project analysed legislation in three sectors of the Romanian economy: construction, transport and food processing. Using the OECD Competition Assessment Toolkit to structure the analysis, the OECD identified 227 problematic regulations and made 152 specific recommendations on legal provisions that should be amended or repealed. This report identifies the sources of those benefits and, where possible, provides quantitative estimates. If these recommendations are implemented, there should be benefits to consumers in Romania and to the Romanian economy in all three sectors.
Foreword
Since joining the European Union (EU) in 2007, Romania’s economy has made remarkable progress. In 2015, the country achieved one of the highest growth rates of all EU Member States, at 3.7%. This growth is supported by exports, mainly to the EU and strong domestic demand. Local consumption has been significantly strengthened by rising wages, low interest rates, low fuel prices and VAT reductions on food items. Meanwhile, the deficit reduction is contributing to greater macroeconomic stability.