Rules shape markets for years after they are written, and the cost of a poorly designed rule falls on firms, consumers and the regulator that has to enforce it. VA Partners helps governments, regulators and the organisations affected by regulation answer the questions that come before and after a rule: what problem it solves, what it will cost, who bears that cost, and whether a less restrictive option would work.

We conduct regulatory impact assessments scaled to the impact of the rule, together with market studies, cost-benefit analysis and ex-post evaluation. Our work spans competition policy, network industries such as telecommunications, energy and transport, and the regulation of digital platforms and emerging technologies. We also draft guidelines and secondary rules, and train the officials who will apply them.

Where an association or coalition commissions a study, we publish the method and disclose the funding. We provide economic analysis, not lobbying.

Our team has advised the OECD, ASEAN, the World Bank and UNESCO, served as adviser to Thai ministries, taken part in international trade negotiations, and teaches law and economics at Chulalongkorn University.

Highlighted Matters

• Conducted the field study for the ASEAN Peer Review of Thailand's competition policy advocacy, as external consultants appointed by the ASEAN Secretariat.

• Supported Thailand's negotiating position on the EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement.

• Advised a Thai government agency on the regulation of algorithms and AI in digital platform services, including a regulatory impact assessment.

• Conducted a regulatory impact assessment of the Electronic Transactions Act for the technology sector.

• Drafted merger and competition guidelines for the Energy Regulatory Commission.

• Delivered capacity-building programmes on regulatory impact assessment and competition policy for public officials.