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[Article] New report on competition in professions

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  • 20-03-2003 6:19pm
    #1
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,321 ✭✭✭✭


    I think the recommendations on number of college places will be the most effective. New rules on advertising and the like will be more problematic. From http://www.rte.ie/news/2003/0320/world_news.html
    New report on competition in professions

    March 20, 2003

    (15:57) A major report commissioned by the Competition Authority on barriers to competition in many professions has been published.

    The professions included in the report are those of solicitors, barristers, medical practitioners, vets, dentists, architects and engineers.

    The report from Indecon economic consultants and London Economics calls for the removal of restrictions on the number of student places in relevant third level courses that lead to qualification for these professions.

    It also recommends the removal of restrictions on advertising by professionals, as well as the elimination of lines demarcation and other restrictive practices.

    Chairman of the Competition Authority, Dr John Fingleton, said he wanted to promote public debate about these issues.

    He said the Authority will publish its own report and recommendations about each of the professions over the next 18 months.


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    #2
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,321 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    http://home.eircom.net/content/reuters/worldnews/410990?view=Eircomnet
    Lawyers' insurance gravy train
    From:The Irish Independent
    Sunday, 23rd March, 2003
    Solicitors who insist they are not to blame for rising insurance premiums suffered a major setback last week when the Law Society's own figures showed lawyers make more money from personal injury cases than any other type of work. In fact, one third of solicitors' fee income is generated though personal injuries claims, it said.

    The lawyers' own statistic was revealed in a report examining anti-competitive practices across eight professions, which concluded "very significant restrictions on competition" exist amongst solicitors.

    In a study commissioned by the Competition Authority, economic consultants Indecon also said 25 per cent of solicitors admitted to increasing their fees by over 50 per cent every year. A hard core of five per cent said they got away with fee hikes in excess of 200 per cent in 1999 and 2000.

    But the days of steeply rising legal charges may be numbered. Indecon managing partner Alan Gray said he thought solicitors' fees could fall some 30 per cent if lawyers were forced to compete in a fair and open market place.

    However Indecon said the introduction of cold calling would be needed to help reduce solicitors' fees by this percentage. Indecon examined seven professions - architects, barristers, dentists, doctors, engineers, opticians and vets - finding the legal and medical the most uncompetitive.


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