Title | Privatisation and poverty : the distributional impact of utility privatisation |
Publication Type | Book |
Year of Publication | 2002 |
Authors | Bayliss, K |
Secondary Title | Working paper series / Centre on Regulation and Competition |
Volume | no. 16 |
Pagination | 21 p. |
Date Published | 2002-01-01 |
Publisher | University of Manchester, Centre on Regulation and Competition |
Place Published | Manchester, UK |
ISSN Number | 1904056156 |
Keywords | charges, electricity, employment, funding agencies, impact, institutional aspects, policies, poverty, sdipol, water authorities |
Abstract | This paper examines the impact of privatization of public utilities (water, power, telecommunications) on the poor in developing countries. It critically assesses the World Bank's attempts to link privatization to poverty and considers why such a policy remains a core component of poverty reduction strategies. The five ways in which privatization might be expected to reduce poverty are assessed: economic growth, development of the private sector, fiscal benefits, improved performance of utilities, and the release of aid funds. This is followed by a review of private sector behaviour in which privatization could increase poverty: cherry picking, higher charges (in combination with the abolishment of illegal connections and disconnections), reduction in employment, and weak regulation. |
Notes | 32 ref. |
Custom 1 | 202.2 |