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Italian regulatory reform and water utility performance: An impact analysis

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  • Guerrini, Andrea
  • Molinos-Senante, María
  • Romano, Giulia

Abstract

The Italian water sector has changed substantially over the past ten years. This study assesses the impact of the latest water sector regulatory reform, which follows a performance-based approach, using utility financial data. To understand the effects of reform on the sector, we analyze the performance of 136 Italian water utilities during 2009–2014. To this end, this study employs the non-parametric Luenberger productivity indicator, which shows improvement only between 2012 and 2013. The findings indicate the need for incentives for cost saving and productivity improvement, as well as the need for more investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Guerrini, Andrea & Molinos-Senante, María & Romano, Giulia, 2018. "Italian regulatory reform and water utility performance: An impact analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 95-102.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:52:y:2018:i:c:p:95-102
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2018.03.005
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    8. Mellah, Thuraya & Ben Amor, Tawfik, 2016. "Performance of the Tunisian Water Utility: An input-distance function approach," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 18-32.
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    1. Massarutto, Antonio & Grassetti, Luca & Lambardi di San Miniato, Michele & Moletta, Mattia, 2023. "Efficient firms are all alike, but every inefficient firm is such in its own way: Heterogeneity of costs determinants in the Italian water sector," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    2. Tourinho, Marco & Barbosa, Flávia & Santos, Paulo Rosa & Pinto, Francisco Taveira & Camanho, Ana S., 2023. "Productivity change in Brazilian water services: A benchmarking study of national and regional trends," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    3. Mocholi-Arce, Manuel & Sala-Garrido, Ramon & Molinos-Senante, Maria & Maziotis, Alexandros, 2023. "Profit productivity change in the English and Welsh water sector: Impact of the price reviews," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. María Molinos-Senante & Ramón Sala-Garrido, 2019. "Assessment of Energy Efficiency and Its Determinants for Drinking Water Treatment Plants Using A Double-Bootstrap Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Goh, Kim Huat & See, Kok Fong, 2021. "Measuring the productivity growth of Malaysia's water sector: Implications for regulatory reform," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    6. Tourinho, Marco & Santos, Paulo Rosa & Pinto, Francisco Taveira & Camanho, Ana S., 2022. "Performance assessment of water services in Brazilian municipalities: An integrated view of efficiency and access," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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