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Does the ownership of utilities matter for social outcomes? A survey of the evidence for developing countries

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  • Lisa Bagnoli
  • Salvador Bertomeu-Sanchez
  • Antonio Estache
  • Maria Vagliasindi

Abstract

This paper surveys the evidence on the relevance of the ownership choice for electricity and water and sanitation utilities with respect to access and affordability in developing countries. It shows that most of the widely quoted evidence is outdated and fails to reflect the long-term effects of choices made in the 1990s. The most recent data suggests that ownership affects social outcomes less than regulatory governance and market structure. The evidence is however not precise enough yet. More research is needed to determine how context and institutional constraints, including regulatory capacity, should influence ownership choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Bagnoli & Salvador Bertomeu-Sanchez & Antonio Estache & Maria Vagliasindi, 2023. "Does the ownership of utilities matter for social outcomes? A survey of the evidence for developing countries," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 24-43, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jpolrf:v:26:y:2023:i:1:p:24-43
    DOI: 10.1080/17487870.2021.1997747
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    Cited by:

    1. Coluccia, Benedetta & Barbieri, Roberta & Palmi, Pamela & Natale, Francesco, 2024. "Public ownership and ESG policies: implications for firm productivity in local transportation," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Juliette Caucheteux & Sam Fankhauser & Sugandha Srivastav, 2025. "Climate Change Mitigation Policies for Developing Countries," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 19(1), pages 69-89.
    3. Carvalho Solino Silva, Larissa & Teixeira, Gibran da Silva & Nobre Fernandez, Rodrigo & Halmenschlager, Vinícius, 2024. "Concessions for basic sanitation services in Southern Brazil: A generalized synthetic control analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Bagnoli, Lisa & Bertoméu-Sánchez, Salvador, 2022. "How effective has the electricity social rate been in reducing energy poverty in Spain?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    5. David Tobón‐Orozco & José Pla‐Barber & Joaquín Alegre, 2025. "Between Substance and Symbolism: How Resources and Organizational Facades Interact in Voluntary Climate Commitments," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(7), pages 9154-9168, November.
    6. David Moroz & Amandine Laré & Navaneetham Subramaniam & Cuthbert Madzivanyika, 2026. "Mapping the research landscape on SDG 6: A bibliometric analysis," Post-Print hal-05565866, HAL.

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