Review of supply side remedies - the role of supply side remedies in improving consumer outcomes
Citizens Advice commissioned PA Consulting to review whether regulators should attempt to control firms’ pricing behaviour as a way of addressing longstanding consumer problems like the loyalty penalty. The review found:
Supply-side remedies can deliver immediate improvements for consumers experiencing harm
Regulators are right to be cautious about potential negative impacts of supply side remedies. However, these concerns can be mitigated through careful diagnosis of the problem and effective design.
Regulators may be able to overcome uncertainties about the impact of supply-side remedies by harnessing data and technology.
Continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential for effective policy design and regulators should formally share lessons learned.
The full review can be read here 2.13 MB .