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Empirical Studies on Cost Structure, Regulation and Privatization in Public Utility Industries

Research Project

Project/Area Number 12630055
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 経済政策(含経済事情)
Research InstitutionKobe University

Principal Investigator

MIZUTANI Fumitoshi  Graduate School of Business Administration, Professor, 経営学研究科, 教授 (60263365)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) SHOJI Kenichi  Graduate School of Business Administration, Professor, 経営学研究科, 教授 (70127372)
Project Period (FY) 2000 – 2002
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2002)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥1,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000)
KeywordsPrivatization / Regulation Policy / Public Utility Industries / Railways / Water Supply Industry / Postal Services / Competition Policy / Network Industry / 費用関数 / 最適規模 / 上下分離 / 競争の効果 / 鉄道 / 水道 / 郵便
Research Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility of the introduction of competition policy by analyzing the cost structure of public utility industries and to assess how performance measures such as productive efficiency might be improved by the privatization of the public utility industries. We will present policy implications garnered from these analyses. The four main industries we analyzed were the water supply industry, the railway industry, the postal service industry and local public services. We chose these industries because there are strong expectations that they will be reformed (e.g. the water supply industry), some have already been reformed (e.g. the railway industry), and there is for many of them the possibility that they will be privatized or that their management style will be changed to resemble more closely private-style management.
We collected data regarding public utility industries, which we analyzed by using econometric techniques and from which we obtained information relevant to policy formation. For example, optimal size in terms of providing the minimum average costs is a population of about 760 thousand. Second, we found a competition effect on the private sector's efficiency improvement in parcel delivery service but could not discern a clear effect on productivity improvement and cost reduction for the Post Office. Third, there are no cost advantages in maintenance activities for the operation-infrastructure separation scheme in the railway industry. Last, privatization certainly leads to the cost reduction effect.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2002 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2001 Annual Research Report
  • 2000 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (17 results)

All Other

All Publications (17 results)

  • [Publications] Mizutani, F., T.Urakami: "Identifying Network Density and Scale Economies for Japanese Water Supply Organizations"Papers in Regional Science. Vol.80, No.2. 211-230 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Shoji, K.: "Lessons from Japanese Experience of Role of Public and Private Sectors in Urban Transport"Japan Railway & Transport Review. No.29. 12-18 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 水谷文俊: "政府型フランチャイズ"公営企業. 第34巻,第7号. 38-45 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 正司健一: "「ポスト・モータリゼーション」の時代"高速道路と自動車. 第45巻,第8号. 15-19 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mizutani, F., S.Uranishi: "The Post Office vs. Parcel Delivery Companies : Competition Effects on Costs and Productivity"Journal of Regulatory Economics. (forthcoming).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mizutani, F. (with T. Urakami): "Identifying Network Density and Scale Economics for Japanese Water Supply Organizations"Papers in Regional Science. Vol. 80, No. 2. 211-230 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Shoji, K.: "Lessons from Japanese Experience of Role of Public and Private Sectors in Urban Transport"Japan Railway & Transport Review. No. 29. 12-18 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mizutani, F.: "Governmental Approach of Franchising (in Japanese)"Public Corporation (Koei Kigyo). Vol. 34, No. 7. 38-45 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Shoji, K.: "Era of "Post-Motorization" (in Japanese)"Highway and Automobile (Kosokudoro to Jidosya). Vol. 45, No. 8. 15-19 (2002)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Mizutani, F., (with S. Uranishi): "The Post Office vs. Parcel Delivery Companies: Competition Effects on Costs and Productivity"Journal of Regulatory Economics. (forthcoming).

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2002 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 水谷文俊: "都市・地域再生の考え方"ビジネス・インサイト. 第9巻第4号. 28-39 (2001)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 水谷文俊: "政府型フランチャイズ"公営企業. 第34巻第7号. 38-45 (2002)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Mizutani, F., S.Uranishi: "The Post Office vs. Parcel Delivery Companies : Competition Effects on Costs and Productivity"Journal of Regulatory Economics. (forthcoming).

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 正司健一: "「ポスト・モータリゼーション」の時代"高速道路と自動車. 第45巻第8号. 15-19 (2002)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Mizutani, F., T..Urakami: "Identifying Network Density and Scale Economies for Japanese Water Supply Organizations"Papers in Regional Science. Vol.80, No.2. 211-230 (2001)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Shoji, K.: "Lessons from Japanese Experience of Role pf Public and Private Sectors in Urban Transport"Japan Railway & Transport Review. No.29. 12-18 (2001)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Fumitoshi Mizutani 他1名: "Identifying Network Density and Scale Economies for Japanese Water Supply Organizations"Papers in Regional Science. (未定)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2000-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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