Not logged in.

Contribution Details

Type Journal Article
Scope Discipline-based scholarship
Title Product-Market Competition in the Water Industry: Voluntary Non-discriminatory Pricing
Organization Unit
Authors
  • R Foellmi
  • Urs Meister
Item Subtype Original Work
Refereed Yes
Status Published in final form
Language
  • English
Journal Title Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade
Publisher Springer
Geographical Reach international
ISSN 1566-1679
Volume 5
Number 2
Page Range 115 - 135
Date 2005
Abstract Text Since franchise bidding in the piped water industry is problematic due to extensive investment requirements, product-market competition or common carriage is a valuable alternative for the introduction of competition. This paper analyses product-market competition by considering a simple model of interconnection where competition is introduced between vertically integrated neighbouring water suppliers. The model contains water markets specificities such as local and decentralised networks and related difficulties of regulating access charges. Even without any regulation, we show that: (i) an inefficient incumbent will give up its monopoly position and lower the access price far enough so that the low-cost competitor can enter his home market; (ii) efficiency of production will rise due to liberalisation; and (iii) in contrary to prejudicial claims, investment incentives are not destroyed by the introduction of competition for the market. Investments of low-cost firms may even increase.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1007/s10842-005-3722-0
PDF File Download from ZORA
Export BibTeX
EP3 XML (ZORA)
Additional Information The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com