Water And Liberalisation

In most network industries, new dynamics are leading to an unprecedented opening up to competition and private sector participation. With the development of a single European market, the in-stages liberalisation process of public utilities has spread to almost all sectors. However, the water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector is considered somehow different and it has been excluded until recently from the restructuring processes achieved in other sectors. Water and Liberalisation: European Water Scenarios presents a better understanding of the specific demands of the WSS sector. Covering the operators' strategies, the regulatory dynamics as well as their interactions on the evolution of the sector, it addresses the likelihood, the nature, and the forms the WSS sector may take in Europe in the foreseeable future. Adopting a neutral political stance, the book analyses the implications of alternative scenarios in economic, ecological, social, legal, and institutional terms. Key sections include: In depth introduction to the current situation in the WSS sector; The European water supply and sanitation markets; The institutional framework of the water supply and sanitation sector in the EU: a comparative analysis; Analysis of the EU explicit and implicit policies and approaches in the sector; Analysis of the strategies of the water operators in Europe scenarios on the evolution of the water sector in Europe; Economic, environmental, & social implications of the scenarios; Major implications per scenario.

By analyzing water supply reforms in six developing country's capitals, this text provides a legal, economic and political examination of countries, tolerant of mismanagement of their water and sewerage systems for decades, that suddenly develop a thirst for efficiency.

The continuous growth in the demand for water supply and sanitation services has posed decision makers with the challenge to discover new, and to adapt existing, institutions. Since the last two decades, the most prominent institutional change for the water and sanitation sector is neo-liberalism. Neo-liberalism manifests itself in the water sector through privatization, private sector involvement and liberalisation. This book analyses whether neo-liberalism has had an effect on the institutions, the strategies, and the performances of water providers. Strategies are interpreted through what a water provider can do (strategic context), wants to do (strategic plans), and actually does (strategic actions). On the basis of studies in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, the United Kingdom and Italy, the book concludes that neo-liberal institutional changes matter for the strategies of water providers. However, it also finds that the inherent problems with performance interpretation, measurement and comparison obscure any accurate insight in the effect of neo-liberal institutional changes on performance. In this regard the book opens a window for research both on the relation between institutions and conduct, and between conduct and performance of water and sanitation providers.

The continuous growth in the demand for water supply and sanitation services has posed decision makers with the challenge to discover new, and to adapt existing, institutions. Since the last two decades, the most prominent institutional change for the water and sanitation sector is neo-liberalism. Neo-liberalism manifests itself in the water sector through privatization, private sector involvement and liberalisation. This book analyses whether neo-liberalism has had an effect on the institutions, the strategies, and the performances of water providers. Strategies are interpreted through what a water provider can do (strategic context), wants to do (strategic plans), and actually does (strategic actions). On the basis of studies in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, the United Kingdom and Italy, the book concludes that neo-liberal institutional changes matter for the strategies of water providers. However, it also finds that the inherent problems with performance interpretation, measurement and comparison obscure any accurate insight in the effect of neo-liberal institutional changes on performance. In this regard the book opens a window for research both on the relation between institutions and conduct, and between conduct and performance of water and sanitation providers.

This books examines whether public service liberalization poses a threat to gender and human rights?

In recent decades, network industries around the world have gone through periods of de- and re-regulation. With vast amounts of sometimes conflicting research carried out into specific network industries, the time has come for a critical over-arching assessment of this entire industry in order to provide a platform of understanding to aid future research and practice. This comprehensive resource provides an orientation for academics, policy makers and managers as to the main economic, regulatory and commercial challenges in the network industries. The book is split into sections covering market, policy, regulation, management perspectives, whilst all of the key network industries are covered, including energy, transport, water and telecommunications. Overseen by world-class Editors and experts in the field, this inter-disciplinary resource is essential reading for students and researchers in international business, industrial economics and the industries.