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Industry Structure Issues in the Water and Wastewater Sectors in Australia

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  • Malcolm Abbott
  • Bruce Cohen

Abstract

This paper analyses the diverse range of industry structures operating in the water and wastewater sectors of Australia’s major state capital cities. In particular, it examines this structural diversity in the light of the research findings to date on water and wastewater industry structures, efficiency and productivity, and outlines the range of additional factors that have militated against greater consensus on structural reform in the water and wastewater sectors in major urban areas of Australia. The paper concludes by considering the merits of striving for greater consistency in industry structure given the highly localised nature of urban water supply systems, and by outlining potential areas of future research including the scope for and nature of urban water markets, the optimal separation of regulatory and commercial activities and the potential for private sector participation in the provision of water and wastewater services.

Suggested Citation

  • Malcolm Abbott & Bruce Cohen, 2010. "Industry Structure Issues in the Water and Wastewater Sectors in Australia," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 29(1), pages 48-63, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:econpa:v:29:y:2010:i:1:p:48-63
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1759-3441.2010.00049.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Abbott, Malcolm & Wang, Wei Chun & Cohen, Bruce, 2011. "The long-term reform of the water and wastewater industry: The case of Melbourne in Australia," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 115-122, June.

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