Quality of Service, Efficiency and Scale in Network Industries: An Analysis of European Electricity Distribution

Christian Growitsch*, Tooraj Jamasb, Michael Pollitt

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Quality of service (QoS) is of major economic significance in natural monopoly infrastructure industries. In this article, we present an efficiency analysis of electricity distribution networks from seven European countries. We apply the stochastic frontier analysis method to multi-output translog input distance function models to estimate cost efficiency and scale economies. We show that introducing the quality dimension into the analysis affects estimated efficiency significantly, especially that smaller utilities' efficiency seems to decrease. Our results emphasize that QoS should be an integrated part of efficiency and economic analysis of regulated natural monopolies.
Original languageEnglish
JournalApplied Economics
Volume41
Issue number20
Pages (from-to)2555-2570
Number of pages16
ISSN0003-6846
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

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