Winners and Losers from Utility Privatization in Argentina

Winners and Losers from Utility Privatization in Argentina PDF Author: Omar O. Chisari
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Argentina
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description

Winners and Losers from Utility Privatization in Argentina

Winners and Losers from Utility Privatization in Argentina PDF Author: Omar O. Chisari
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Argentina
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description


Winners and Losers from Utility Privatization in Argentina

Winners and Losers from Utility Privatization in Argentina PDF Author: Omar Chisari
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The economic rates of return for utility privatization projects in Argentina are very high, whether or not distributional weights are considered. But there is a very high shadow price for regulatory activity, which tends to be ignored in most privatization exercises. And how serious a government is about the fair distribution of gains from reform is reflected in how serious it is about regulation. Chisari, Estache, and Romero assess the macroeconomic and distributional effects of the privatization that Argentina began in 1989 in gas, electricity, telecommunications, and water and sanitation. Using a computable general equilibrium model, they track the effects of the changes observed between 1993, the first year by which all the major privatizations had taken place, and 1995, the most recent year for which data are available. In an innovative use of the model, they also assess the importance of the regulator in determining the distribution of gains and losses from utility privatization among sectors and income groups. They conclude that when regulators are effective, the annual gains from the private operation of utilities are about $3.3 billion, or 1.25 percent of GDP, and that all income classes benefit. Ineffective regulation cuts the gains from the reform by $1 billion or 0.35 percent of GDP. This cut in gains represents an implicit tax of 16 percent on the average consumer, paid directly to the owner of the utility rather than to the government. For the poorest income classes, this implicit tax is about 20 percent, meaning that good regulation is in the interest of the poor. The authors also show that the privatization of utilities cannot be blamed for the significant increase in unemployment observed in Argentina since 1993. Effective regulation can lead to a decline in unemployment, and ineffective regulation leads to only a small increase in unemployment. But the gains from utility privatization were not sufficient to offset the negative efficiency and distributional impact on the economy of the Tequila effect, which increased unemployment dramatically by limiting access to credit for users and producers alike. This paper-a product of the Regulatory Reform and Private Enterprise Division, Economic Development Institute-is part of a larger effort in the institute to understand the importance of effective infrastructure regulation. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project "Efficiency and Equity Implications of Argentina's Privatization of Infrastructure Services" (RPO 680-85).

Public Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities

Public Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities PDF Author: Philippe Marin
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821379578
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 204

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Book Description
'Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities: A Review of Experiences in Developing Countries' analyzes the market growth of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the developing world since 1990, and the performance of more than 65 large water PPP projects representing more than 100 million people for access, service quality, operational efficiency, and tariff levels. Although a relatively small portion of the water utilities in the developing world are operated under PPPs (about 7 percent in 2007), the urban population served by private water operators has grown every year since 1990. Despite many difficulties encountered by PPP projects and a few contract terminations, a large majority of contracts awarded since 1990 are still in place. The track record for improving service and efficiency reaffirms the value of PPPs to help turn around poorly performing water utilities, even though the level of private financing did not match initial expectations. Over time, a more realistic market has developed, the number of private investors from developing countries has grown, and contract designs have become more pragmatic concerning risk allocations between partners. The water sector has many features that set it apart from other infrastructure sectors. This book suggests the need for careful consideration of those specificities to successfully involve private operators. Although concessions with private financing have worked in a few places, contractual arrangements that combine private operation with public financing appear to be the most sustainable option in many countries. Policy makers, stakeholders, and donors need to remain heavily engaged in the water sector, especially in the poorest countries and during a global financial crisis. This book contributes to a better understanding of the various options to tackle the many challenges of providing water and sanitation services to urban populations in the developing world.

Private Participation in Infrastructure in Developing Countries

Private Participation in Infrastructure in Developing Countries PDF Author: Clive Harris
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821355121
Category : Developing countries
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Book Description
Governments have long recognized the vital role that modern infrastructure services play in economic growth and poverty alleviation. For much of the post-Second World War period, most governments entrusted delivery of these services to state-owned monopolies. But in many developing countries, the results were disappointing. Public sector monopolies were plagued by inefficiency. Many were strapped for resources because governments succumbed to populist pressures to hold prices below costs. Fiscal pressures, and the success of the pioneers of the privatization of infrastructure services, provided governments with a new paradigm. Many governments sought to involve the private sector in the provision and financing of infrastructure services. The shift to the private provision that occurred during the 1990s was much more rapid and widespread than had been anticipated at the start of the decade. By 2001, developing countries had seen over $755 billion of investment flows in nearly 2500 infrastructure projects. However, these flows peaked in 1997, and have fallen more or less steadily ever since. These declines have been accompanied by high profile cancellations or renegotiations of some projects, a reduction in investor appetite for these activities and, in some parts of the world, a shift in public opinion against the private provision of infrastructure services. The current sense of disillusionment stands in stark contrast to what should in retrospect be surprise at the spectacular growth of private infrastructure during the 1990s.

Power for Development

Power for Development PDF Author: Fernando Reyes Manibog
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 9780821356937
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 172

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Book Description
This publication evaluates the performance of the World Bank Group (WBG) during the 1990s in promoting private sector development in the electric power sector in 80 countries. Main findings include that where countries showed a commitment to advancing reforms in promoting private sector development and where programmes were properly implemented, the expected benefits were delivered. However, quality of outcomes depended on the objectives pursued and on types of assistance provided, with most countries remaining in the early stages of reform.

Privatization South American Style

Privatization South American Style PDF Author: Luigi Manzetti
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198294665
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 402

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Book Description
It also examines the apparently 'unconventional' methods at times used by the governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Peru to achieve privatization."--Jacket.

Core Indicators for Determinants and Performance of the Electricity Sector in Developing Countries

Core Indicators for Determinants and Performance of the Electricity Sector in Developing Countries PDF Author: Tooraj Jamasb
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Electric power
Languages : en
Pages : 36

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Book Description
Abstract: "Since the early 1990s, substantial resources and efforts have been spent on implementing market-oriented electricity reforms in developing countries. While there are important sectoral, economic, and social dimensions involved in electricity reform, empirical analysis and evaluation of reforms have been of limited use for testing the economic rationale of reforms and policy advice. This may partly be attributed to a lack of generally accepted and measured indicators for monitoring the progress, impacts, and performance of reforms. In this paper the authors propose a set of indicators as a first step toward filling this gap and developing a coherent framework for studying electricity reform in developing countries that covers resource and institutional endowments, key reform steps, market structure, performance, and various impacts."--World Bank web site.

Latin American Economic Crises

Latin American Economic Crises PDF Author: E. Bour
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1403943850
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 269

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Book Description
This volume examines issues of economic interest faced by Latin America economies in the late Twentieth-century. The fifteen chapters deal with macroeconomic problems, financial crises, the development of trade and trade agreements and labour issues. Of particular interest are the chapters dealing with Argentina, which provide an absorbing background to the financial crisis faced today.

Utility Privatization and the Needs of the Poor in Latin America

Utility Privatization and the Needs of the Poor in Latin America PDF Author: Antonio Estache
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Infrastructure (Economics)
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
Do Latin America's poor households lose from the privatization of infrastructure? How can policymakers minimize the risk of losses while promoting competition and private financing of infrastructure?

Does Private Sector Participation Improve Performance in Electricity and Water Distribution?

Does Private Sector Participation Improve Performance in Electricity and Water Distribution? PDF Author: Katharina Gassner
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 0821377175
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 118

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Book Description
This study examines the question of private versus public performance in a natural monopoly setting. It analyzes data from 301 utilities with private sector participation (PSP) and 926 utilities without PSP in 71 developing and transition economies to evaluate the impact of PSP on firm performance in electricity distribution and water and sanitation services. Private participation is shown to be associated with an increase in connections, labor productivity, and bill collection rates, and a decrease in employment and electricity distributional losses.