Utilizamos cookies propias y de terceros, analizando sus hábitos de navegación en nuestra página web, con la finalidad de garantizar la calidad, seguridad y mejora de los servicios ofrecidos a través de la misma. En los casos en que el usuario no manifieste expresamente si acepta o no la instalación de las cookies, pero continúe utilizando nuestra página web, se entenderá que éste ha dado su consentimiento, informándole expresamente de la posibilidad de bloquear o eliminar las cookies instaladas en su equipo mediante la configuración de las opciones del navegador. Puede obtener más información a este respecto consultando nuestra Política de Cookies Acepto
Ivie
VALENCIAN INSTITUTE OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH

Research article: The cost efficiency of water utilities: when does public ownership matter?

Local Government Studies Author: Emili Tortosa-Ausina, Silvia Pazzi, Meryem Duygun and Simona Zambelli

Title: The cost efficiency of water utilities: when does public ownership matter?

Source: Local Government Studies

Abstract: This study explores the impact of different ownership types on the efficiency of water utilities. Theories and evidence have shown a puzzling relationship between ownership and performance. Moreover, relatively recent contributions (Andrews et al. 2011) have argued that this relationship can be further convoluted by the effect of organisational and environmental variables. The current study aims to contribute to this literature by providing some empirical evidence for Italy, by proposing a methodology that combines non-parametric efficiency estimation and cluster analysis. Our main findings indicate that privately owned utilities indirectly controlled by a public organisation reach the highest level of efficiency but, when size and geographical location enter the analysis, ownership has a stronger significant effect on efficiency, and mixed utilities gain higher cost efficiency. Therefore, we may conclude that administrative reforms about privatisation and the institutional setting should consider a set of variables that characterise each individual organisation.

View article

Recommended citation:

Tortosa-Ausina, E., S. Pazzi, M. Duygun and S. Zambelli (2016): "The cost efficiency of water utilities: when does public ownership matter?", Local Government Studies ,42(6), pp. 980-1003.

Further articles