Successes and failures in regulating and deregulating utilities : evidence from the UK, Europe, and the USA

This book is the latest annual review of utility regulation and deregulation, published in association with the Institute of Economic Affairs and the London Business School. It contains a series of chapters from leading practitioners in the field which comment on the most significant and up-to-date developments. Topics include US telecoms deregulation, road network regulation, UK competition policy, Ofcom and light touch regulation, railway regulation, the liberalisation of European utility markets, postal regulation, investment and regulation, and energy regulation in the UK. Two papers are presented on each issue: the first by a distinguished academic or industry expert and the second, a shorter comment, usually by the relevant regulator. Together they show how regulation and deregulation are evolving, and highlight the successes which have been achieved and the failures which must be overcome. This book will be of considerable value to practitioners, policymakers and academics involved in regulatory reform and regulatory economics. It will also be of interest to anyone wishing to gain an overview of international regulatory policies. The failure of good intentions : the collapse of American telecommunications after six years of deregulation / J. Gregory Sidak ; Chairman's comments / David Edmonds Road networks : efficiency, externalities and consumer choice / David Starkie ; Chairman's comments / Leonard Waverman The Enterprise Act : pluses and minuses for competition policy / George Yarrow ; Chairman's comments / Derek Morris Ofcom and light touch regulation / Martin Cave ; Chairman's comments / Irwin Stelzer What to do about the railways? / Chris Nash ; Chairman's comments / Tom Winsor Liberalizing utilizing markets in the European Union / Frits Bolkestein ; Chairman's comments / Philip Fletcher Measuring the success of postal regulators : best practice in postal regulation / Ian Senior ; Chairman's comments / Graham Corbett Can regulation address the investment problem? Examples from aviation / Doug Andrew ; Chairman's comments / Andrew Sentance Gas, electricity and the energy review / Colin Robinson ; Chairman's comments / Callum McCarthy Robinson (economics, University of Surrey, UK) provides a review of utility regulation and deregulation. Leading practitioners in the field comment on areas including US telecoms deregulation, road network regulation, UK competition policy, railway regulation, and the liberalization of European utility markets. Two viewpoints are presented on each issue: the first by an academic or industry expert, and the second by a regulator. Together they show how regulation and deregulation are evolving and highlight successes and failures in the field. Readership includes practitioners, policymakers, and academics in regulatory reform and regulatory economics. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR This text covers the collapse of American telecommunications after six years of deregulation, road networks, the railways, utility markets in the European Union, postal regulation and gas, electricity and energy