Barriers and Opportunities for Enhancing Capital Flows
In the COMCEC Member Countries
106
 Very high: discouragement of new business, random
application of regulations
3. Freedom of existing businesses to compete
 Very high  High  Moderate  Low 
Very low
4. Government policy on actively promoting competition and
curbing unfair business practices
 Very good: unrestricted entry to almost all markets;
effective enforcement of well-drafted competition policy
 Good: significant actions to reduce monopoly power
and promote competitive environment
 Fair: some actions to curb monopoly power;
reduction of entry restrictions
 Poor: competition policy and legislation exist; little
enforcement action
 Very poor: no effective competition institutions or
legislation
5. Protection of intellectual property
 Very good  Good  Fair  Poor  Very poor
Consider: how strict and well-enforced the regulations
are. How efficient are the courts in dealing with
transgressors? Can the injured party gain an injunction?
Does protection extend to patents, trademarks and service
marks?
6. Price controls
 Very few or none
 In a few areas, usually including energy and some
utilities
 In some areas, including energy, agricultural
products and some household staples
 In a significant number of industrial sectors as well
as utilities
 Extensive
7. Distortions in the business environment arising from
special interest groups’ lobbying of government
 Very low  Low  Moderate  High 
Very high