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Competitively neutral universal service obligations

Author

Listed:
  • Gautier, Axel
  • Wauthy, Xavier

Abstract

Universal service obligations impose specific costs on the universal service provider and the latter may call for an appropriate compensation. Most often, a two-step procedure is put forward to finance the universal service in a competitive environment. Firstly, the cost of the universal service is assessed; secondly, the provider must be compensated for this cost. We argue that this procedure is problematic because the implementation of a compensation scheme affects the behavior of market participants and leads to an overcompensation of the universal service provider. We put forward an alternative approach to this problem that fully acknowledges the distortions that result from the compensation mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • Gautier, Axel & Wauthy, Xavier, 2012. "Competitively neutral universal service obligations," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 254-261.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:24:y:2012:i:3:p:254-261
    DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2012.04.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Axel Gautier & Jean-Christophe Poudou & Michel Roland, 2024. "Net Neutrality and Universal Service Obligations: It’s All About Bandwidth," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 64(4), pages 581-614, June.
    2. Srinuan, Chalita, 2014. "Uncertainty of public pay phone in Thailand: Implications for the universal service obligation," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 730-740.
    3. Gautier Axel & Poudou Jean-Christophe, 2014. "Reforming the Postal Universal Service," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 13(4), pages 453-477, December.
    4. Poudou, Jean-Christophe & Roland, Michel, 2014. "Efficiency of uniform pricing in universal service obligations," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 141-152.
    5. Poudou, Jean-Christophe & Roland, Michel, 2017. "Equity justifications for universal service obligations," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 63-95.
    6. Gautier Axel & Paolini Dimitri, 2011. "Universal Service Financing in Competitive Postal Markets: One Size Does Not Fit All," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 10(3), pages 1-30, September.

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    JEL classification:

    • L43 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Legal Monopolies and Regulation or Deregulation
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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