International Handbook of Network Industries : The Liberalization of Infrastructure

In recent decades, all infrastructures have undergone significant restructuring. This worldwide phenomenon is often labelled 'liberalization' and although expectations were high with respect to lower prices, greater efficiency and innovation, the expected gains have not always been fully realised. This extensive, state-of-the-art Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the various experiences of liberalization across different sectors, regions and disciplines. The multidisciplinary approach focuses on the economic, political and institutional aspects of liberalization, as well as to a lesser extent on technological issues. As such, it constitutes a unique contribution as this broad overview is often lost in the sector specific, country-focused and purely disciplinary approaches prevalent in the current literature. Sectors explored include telecoms, the Internet, energy and transport, whilst the truly global perspective incorporates unique case studies from an array of developed and developing countries including the US, China, India and the EU.The International Handbook of Network Industries will become the definitive volume for academics researchers and students of economics, political science and law interested in infrastructure regulation. It will also prove a valuable guide to practitioners and policymakers involved in liberalization and competition. 'to Learn About How Economic And Institutional Forces Have Shaped The Network Industries And Policies Towards Them, Read The First Part Of The Book. To Discover Their Impacts On Particular Industries, Read The Second Part. And To Find Out What Has Happened In Particular Countries, Read The Third Part. I Think Anyone Interested In Network Industries Should Read All Of It! The Book's Structure Allows For Many Interesting Comparisons Across Countries And Sectors.' Richard Green, University Of Birmingham, Uk 'this Is A Very Useful And Comprehensive Guide To Reforms In Network Industries In Communications, Energy, Transport And Water. It Is Organized By Generic Topic, Sector And Region. Its Authors Are Acknowledged Experts. I Am Confident That This Handbook Will Be A Widely Read And Valuable Resource For Many Years.' Martin Cave, London School Of Economics, Uk 'quite An Accomplishment, This Handbook Provides By Far The Most Comprehensive Overview Of The Role Of The Private Sector And Competition In Infrastructure Industries, With Thoughtful Surveys Of Each Of The Major Infrastructure Sectors And Of The Key Regions And Countries.' José Gómez-ibáñez, Harvard University, Us In Recent Decades, All Infrastructures Have Undergone Significant Restructuring. This Worldwide Phenomenon Is Often Labelled 'liberalization' And Although Expectations Were High With Respect To Lower Prices, Greater Efficiency And Innovation, The Expected Gains Have Not Always Been Fully Realized. This Extensive, State-of-the-art Handbook Provides A Comprehensive Overview Of The Various Experiences Of Liberalization Across Different Sectors, Regions And Disciplines. The Multidisciplinary Approach Focuses On The Economic, Political And Institutional Aspects Of Liberalization As Well As, To A Lesser Extent, On Technological Issues. As Such, It Constitutes A Unique Contribution, As This Broad Overview Is Often Lost In The Sector Specific, Country-focused And Purely Disciplinary Approaches Prevalent In The Current Literature. Sectors Explored Include Telecoms, The Internet, Energy And Transport, Whilst The Truly Global Perspective Incorporates Unique Case Studies From An Array Of Developed And Developing Countries Including The Us, China, India And The Eu. The International Handbook Of Network Industries Will Become The Definitive Volume For Academics Researchers And Students Of Economics, Political Science And Law Interested In Infrastructure Regulation. It Will Also Prove A Valuable Guide To Practitioners And Policy-makers Involved In Liberalization And Competition. Cover 1 Copyright 4 Contents 5 Contributors 7 1 Introduction 9 PART I GENERIC ASPECTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE LIBERALIZATION 17 2 Basic economic principles of infrastructure liberalization: a transaction cost perspective 19 3 A general framework for regulation and liberalization in network industries 34 4 From ‘service public’ to universal service: the case of the European Union 62 5 Evolution and design of institutions supporting liberalization 78 6 The institutional economic history of infrastructure industries, 1830–1990: ideology, technology, geopolitics? 95 PART II SECTOR STUDIES 109 7 Liberalization in the telecom sector 111 8 Liberalization in radio spectrum management 131 9 Liberalization and the Internet 152 10 The liberalization of electricity markets 170 11 Trends in gas 187 12 The oil industry: a dynamic patchwork of approaches? 205 13 Reforming railways 223 14 Liberalization of air transport 242 15 Road infrastructure and institutional reform: tolling and pricing 260 16 Public transport liberalization: achievements and future directions 277 17 Maritime ports 298 18 Liberalization in the water sector: three leading models 318 19 Liberalization in the postal and delivery sector 336 PART III COUNTRY AND REGIONALSTUDIES 351 20 Liberalization of network industries in the European Union: evolving policy issues 353 21 Liberalization and regulation of telecoms, electricity, and gas in the United States 374 22 The liberalization of infrastructures in Latin America 392 23 Reform of China’s energy and telecommunications sectors 415 24 Infrastructure reforms in India: an analysis of successes and failures 435 25 Liberalization of infrastructures in Russia 456 26 Recent Australian infrastructure liberalization 479 27 Infrastructure liberalization: challenges to the new economic paradigm in the context of developing countries 499 Index 521 "In recent decades, all infrastructures have undergone significant restructuring. This worldwide phenomenon is often labelled 'liberalization' and although expectations were high with respect to lower prices, greater efficiency and innovation, the expected gains have not always been fully realized. This extensive, state-of-the-art Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the various experiences of liberalization across different sectors, regions and disciplines. The multidisciplinary approach focuses on the economic, political and institutional aspects of liberalization, as well as to a lesser extent on technological issues. As such, it constitutes a unique contribution as this broad overview is often lost in the sector specific, country-focused and purely disciplinary approaches prevalent in the current literature. Sectors explored include telecoms, the Internet, energy and transport, while the truly global perspective incorporates unique case studies from an array of developed and developing countries including the US, China, India and the EU. The International Handbook of Network Industries will become the definitive volume for academics researchers and students of economics, political science and law interested in infrastructure regulation. It will also prove a valuable guide to practitioners and policy makers involved in liberalization and competition"--Amazon.com