MOBILE PHONE CHARGES INQUIRY

DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST

Rachel Griffith is a senior economist at the Competition Commission. The group of members conducting the mobile phones inquiry has recently asked Dr Griffith to comment on the econometric work that has been presented to the group by the parties to the inquiry and others. Dr Griffith works at the CC part-time. For the remainder of her time she is Director of the Productivity and Innovation Research Programme at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Part of her work at the IFS involves academic research into methods for estimating elasticities. This may at some time involve estimating elasticities (own and cross price) for mobile phones, although this aspect of the work would not commence until 2003.

It has recently come to her attention that one of her colleagues at IFS (who may also be involved in the project estimating elasticities), has done some work in a private capacity for a consulting firm working for one of the parties to the mobile phones inquiry. We do not believe that any issues of conflict of interest arise out of this relationship but if your organisation has any concern I would be pleased to discuss it with you.

22 July 2002