A Comparative Analysis of Merger Control Efficacy in China and Pakistan as Blueprint for Malaysia.
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Abstract
Merger control serves as the ex-ante guardian of market structures, designed to prevent harmful concentrations of economic power before they become irreversible. In the rapidly evolving Asian economic landscape, the implementation of effective merger regimes has shifted from a technical legal requirement to a strategic necessity for national economic sovereignty. This paper provides a critical, comparative evaluation of merger control efficacy across three jurisdictions at varying stages of regulatory maturity: China, Pakistan, and Malaysia. By analysing China’s 2024 ‘threshold revolution’ and its proactive stance on the digital economy, alongside Pakistan’s institutional resilience in the face of severe budgetary and judicial constraints, this study identifies the essential ‘regulatory DNA’ required for a successful regime.
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