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The High Cost of Taxi Regulation, with Special Reference to Sydney

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  • Peter Abelson

Abstract

Numerous regulations govern entry, industry structure, service quality and prices for the Sydney taxi industry. The paper finds few efficiency or social reasons for these regulations and taxi performance is poor. On plausible assumptions, the net benefits from unrestricted entry into the Sydney taxi industry are in the order of $265 million per annum. The productivity and service benefits of reforming entry would be greater if accompanied by reform of the anti-competitive control of the taxi radio networks over all taxi operators.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Abelson, 2010. "The High Cost of Taxi Regulation, with Special Reference to Sydney," Agenda - A Journal of Policy Analysis and Reform, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics, vol. 17(2), pages 41-72.
    • Handle: RePEc:acb:agenda:v:17:y:2010:i:2:p:41-72
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    File URL: http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p89361/pdf/taxi_regulation.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:ejw:journl:v:3:y:2006:i:3:p:551-602 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Cairns, Robert D. & Liston-Heyes, Catherine, 1996. "Competition and regulation in the taxi industry," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Diamond, Peter A., 1971. "A model of price adjustment," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 156-168, June.
    4. repec:ejw:journl:v:3:y:2006:i:1:p:109-132 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Saul Eslake, 2011. "Productivity: The Lost Decade," RBA Annual Conference Volume (Discontinued), in: Hugo Gerard & Jonathan Kearns (ed.),The Australian Economy in the 2000s, Reserve Bank of Australia.

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