When Opt-Out Means Lost: Defaults, Dark Exits And The Illusion Of Choice
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Some choices are not made. They are assumed. And some exits are there, but only in theory. In many markets today, consumers are offered more choices than ever. But choice is not only about what options are available. It is also about how those options are presented. Design plays a […]
Deceptive By Design How Dark Patterns Exploit Consumers And Distort Markets
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Dark patterns are not just bad design. They are strategic tools that erode consumer autonomy and distort market competition. Not all design is neutral. Some are crafted to confuse, pressure or trap users. These are known as dark patterns. They influence users to take actions they may not have intended […]
Typography Matters: When Poor Disclosure Becomes A Competition Issue
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi Poor formatting is not just bad for consumers; it can reshape how markets operate. This piece examines how typography, layout and design drive transparency, switching and competition In Part 1 of this series, I argued that typography is not merely aesthetic but plays a regulatory role. How information is presented – […]
Balancing Innovation and Oversight in ASEAN Competition Regimes for the Digital Economy
By Dr. Wan Khatina Nawawi, Managing Director, EconWorks Advisory As Southeast Asia’s digital economy expands, the governance of platform markets has emerged as one of the region’s most complex policy challenges. Digital platforms now mediate a significant share of commerce, services, and mobility across ASEAN. These platforms are reshaping market structures, shifting competitive dynamics, and […]
How does Grab contribute to Malaysia
EconWorks has authored an economic impact assessment to study how Grab’s businesses support the Malaysian economy. Our study finds that in 2023, Grab has made the following contributions to the Malaysian economy: Grab services unlocked up to RM9.9 billion in value-added, thus supporting 0.5% of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Grab’s ecosystem supported up to […]
Impact Assessment of MYCC’s Enforcement Activities
EconWorks has conducted an economic impact assessment to evaluate the benefits of the Malaysia Competition Commission’s (MyCC) enforcement activities on the Malaysian economy. Our study reveals that MyCC’s interventions have yielded substantial consumer savings i.e. when compared against various measures of MyCC’s expenditures, the cases show high ‘returns on enforcement’, in which the delivered consumer […]
Driving Value: Grab’s Economic Contribution to Malaysia
EconWorks has authored an economic impact assessment to study how Grab’s businesses support the Malaysian economy. Our study finds that in 2023, Grab has made the following contributions to the Malaysian economy: Grab services unlocked up to RM9.9 billion in value-added, thus supporting 0.5% of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Grab’s ecosystem supported up to […]