Although features of economic life differ from country to country, the economic adjustment policies which have been implemented have required action in many areas which touch on competition legislation. These include the rights of consumers, technical standards, investment rules, commercial law, especially patents and trademarks, protection of trade, privatization and regulated service sectors. Competition rules are part of these efforts to improve the way economic life is organized. There are those who consider such rules to be essential, but they could hardly be implemented if the organization of the economy did not offer some guarantee of stability in operation. Some countries have different bodies responsible for the investigation procedure and the final decision, the latter being a matter for a special tribunal.
Examples are Chile and Peru.
Table 2 lists national competition authorities. Some of them have the power to interpret the law and may issue resolutions or rulings to facilitate implementation of competition rules. In some countries the scope of the operative parts of such rulings is restricted. Administrative rules on competition authority powers and procedural rules are usually fuller. Some national legislations set reducing bureaucratic procedures and formalities as an objective.