Private Water and Economic Regulation in the United States

Janice A. Beecher
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Janice A. Beecher: Michigan State University

Chapter 45 in Handbook Utility Management, 2008, pp 779-801 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The water industry in the United States exhibits complex structural features. Compared with other public utilities, and despite substantial capital investment needs, the water industry in the US continues to be dominated by public ownership - as it does in most corners of the world. The reality of [privatization[ in the form of expanded ownership or operation of water supply assets does not seem to match the rhetoric. Effective economic regulation is a necessary but insufficient condition for private involvement in the water sector because of water's monopolistic character, reinforced by other market imperfections. Expansion of the private role may depend on the industry's ability to demonstrate clear economic advantages, regulatory and other policy reforms, and political and public acceptance.

Keywords: water; privatization; regulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-79349-6_45

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