Author Description

Drawing on new empirical evidence and employing the latest measurement techniques, the author investigates the claim that privately owned utilities exhibit higher productive efficiency than those in the public sector. Data from the industry in a number of countries is used to look at the ownership-productive efficiency question for both the power plants and the electricity transmission and distribution systems. The study fills important gaps in our knowledge and is valuable with the growing move towards restructuring and privatization of large sections of state-owned electricity industries around the world.