Quo vadis efficiency analysis of water distribution? A comparative literature review
| Autor: | Robert Wand, Michael Zschille, Matthias Walter, Christian von Hirschhausen, Astrid Cullmann |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2009 |
| Předmět: |
Sociology and Political Science
Public economics Natural resource economics business.industry Comparative literature media_common.quotation_subject Distribution (economics) Water industry Benchmarking Management Monitoring Policy and Law Development Economies of scale Economies of scope Sewerage Economics Quality (business) Business and International Management business media_common |
| Zdroj: | Utilities Policy. 17:225-232 |
| ISSN: | 0957-1787 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jup.2009.05.002 |
| Popis: | Recognizing the growing importance of scientific benchmarking in water distribution, we provide a comprehensive survey of the available literature. We begin with a discussion about the (limited) use of benchmarking in the regulation of UK water utilities, and then extend the analysis to regulated water sectors in other countries. We find no clear impact of public or private ownership; instead, the institutional settings appear to be a dominant driver of efficiency. Quality and structural variables are significant parameters; and water losses and population density are also important drivers. Analysis reveals that economies of scale only exist in fragmented water industries, whereas economies of density are omnipresent. We find evidence suggesting important economies of scope (e.g. between water and sewerage). Finally, we summarize the tensions that exist in attempting to measure efficiency in the water industry and draw conclusions about how to improve efficiency analysis in the future. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|
Full Text from ScienceDirect