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Yardstick Cost Comparison and Economies of Scale and Scope in Japan's Electric Power Industry

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  • Takanori Ida
  • Tetsuya Kuwahara

Abstract

This paper utilizes a fixed‐effects model of panel data analysis and estimates the translog cost function of the Japanese electric power industry from 1978 to 1998. First, we investigate whether the Japanese electric power industry is naturally monopolistic. We find that all electric power companies still benefit from both scale and scope economies and therefore, this industry remains a naturally mono‐polistic industry. Second, in order to apply the idea of yardstick‐type competition to a naturally monopolistic industry where costs are quite different between companies, we introduce two kinds of cost‐comparison coefficients, one for the individually specific effects and the other for scale and scope economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Takanori Ida & Tetsuya Kuwahara, 2004. "Yardstick Cost Comparison and Economies of Scale and Scope in Japan's Electric Power Industry," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 18(4), pages 423-438, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaec:v:18:y:2004:i:4:p:423-438
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8381.2004.00199.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fetz, Aurelio & Filippini, Massimo, 2010. "Economies of vertical integration in the Swiss electricity sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 1325-1330, November.
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    3. Goto, Mika & Inoue, Tomohiro & Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki, 2013. "Structural reform of Japanese electric power industry: Separation between generation and transmission & distribution," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 186-200.
    4. Roland Meyer, 2012. "Vertical Economies and the Costs of Separating Electricity Supply--A Review of Theoretical and Empirical Literature," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 4).

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