Towards Competition in Network Industries

Competition in network industries faces particular problems which are analyzed from both a theoretical and policy perspective. Issues of vertical integration, deregulation and privatization are covered. While competition and privatization are rapidly unfolding in telecommunications in Western and Eastern Europe, energy and railway transportation represent sectors of more gradual liberalization. The different market characteristics of telecommunications, energy and transportation raise consistency problems in the fields of deregulation, investment strategies and internationalization. While transformation policies create opportunities for liberalization in Eastern Europe and Russia the latter shows critical problems in ending monopoly and state ownership. Network industries could be subject to competition and promise major investment opportunities plus consumer benefits.

Latest research results and policy recommendations for network industries

Autorentext
Paul J. J. Welfens, geb. 1957 in Düren, Studium der Volkswirtschaftslehre in Wuppertal, Duisburg und Paris, Promotion 1985, Habilitation1989. Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für Volkswirtschaftslehre - Schwerpunkt Makroökonomische Theorie und Politik an der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal; Präsident des Europäischen Instituts für Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen (EIIW); Jean-Monnet-Professor für Europäische Wirtschaftsintegration; zuvor Distinguished Research Fellow am AICGS/The Johns Hopkins University, Professor an der Universität Münster bzw. Potsdam, Visiting Alfred Grosser Professor Sciences Po, Paris.

Inhalt
Table of Content.- I. Deregulation and Market Dynamics in Telecommunications.- A: Competition, Privatization and Foreign Direct Investment in Network Industries.- B: Privatisation, Competition and Regulation in Transforming Economies: The Cases of the Electricity Supply Industry and Telecommunications.- C: Deregulation, Privatization and Internationalization of European Telecoms Markets.- D: Full Competition in Telecommunications: The Experience of Finland.- E: Full Competition in Telecommunications: The US Perspective.- F: Market Entry in the Presence of a Dominant Network Operator in Telecommunications.- G: Electricity Companies and Railway Networks as Newcomers in Telecommunications.- H: Liberalization of Telecommunications in Central Europe.- I: Regulation of the Telecommunication Sector in Russia: Direct Foreign Investments and Options for Competition.- J: Systemic Transformation and Direct Foreign Investment in Russia: Problems and Solutions.- K: The Role of Foreign Investment in the Russian Internet.- L: Panel Discussion: Competition in European Telecommunications and Market Perspective.- II. Liberalizing the Energy Sector.- M: Vertical Integration in the Electricity Supply Industry: Competition and Investment Issues.- N: Privatization and Modernization of the Electricity Sector in the CEE Transition Countries.- O: Russian Electricity Industry: Towards Market Economics.- P: Restructuring Infrastructure in Transition Economies.- Q: Lessons from Restructuring the Energy Sector in East Germany.- III. Changes in the Transportation Sector.- R: The Regulation of the Privatised Railways in Britain.- S: Russian Railway and Transportation.- T: Intramodal Competition and the Reform of the German Railway System: Problems, Policy Options and Results.- U: MaterialIntensity of Transportation and Implications for Sustainable Mobility in Europe.- V: The Transport Multimodal European Transport Network.- Trans-European Networks and Fiscal Federalism: The Rationale of European Infrastructure Policy.- W: Panel Discussion: Transportation and Electricity Networks: Financing Infrastructure Investments in Europe and Russia.- List of contributors.