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The Motivation and Effectiveness of Gas Industry Economic Regulation in New South Wales, 1912–39

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  • Malcolm Abbott

Abstract

The oldest industry in Australia subjected to economic regulation is the gas supply industry in the state of New South Wales. In this paper the aims and motivation of the New South Wales Government in establishing the regulatory regime in 1912 and the subsequent effectiveness in achieving them are determined. Initially the regulatory regime was based on ad hoc arrangements, but eventually a more permanent structure was devised that effectively defused political controversy over gas market pricing and stabilised prices rather than substantially lowered them.

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  • Malcolm Abbott, 2013. "The Motivation and Effectiveness of Gas Industry Economic Regulation in New South Wales, 1912–39," Australian Economic History Review, Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 53(2), pages 167-186, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ozechr:v:53:y:2013:i:2:p:167-186
    DOI: 10.1111/aehr.12009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abbott, Malcolm & Cohen, Bruce, 2022. "Economics, ideology, and the creation and performance of state-owned electricity utilities in Australia, 1900 to 1950," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    2. Malcolm Abbott & Xiaoying Ma, 2017. "Economic Regulation in Australia: The Case of the New South Wales Gas," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 36(3), pages 250-265, September.

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