Acta Universitatis Danubius. Œconomica, Vol 7, No 6 (2011)

Abstract

Before setting up the European single market and competition rules at Community level, within all states there were some areas where prices were set artificially, so that marginal businesses could survive, and the cost of this protection was sidetracked onto the final consumer. In other cases, unprofitable companies were supported by various types of state aid, costs being thus borne by taxpayers. From this point of view, it was to the very benefit of citizens, as both consumers and taxpayers, that unprofitable firms should disappear from the market by the free play of competition. This common interest of EU citizens is virtually the essential driving force of multinational integration.