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Privatisation and Remunicipalisation of Urban Water in Catalonia: Between Monopolisation, State and the Commons

Author

Listed:
  • Germà Bel

    (GiM-IREA, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.)

  • Joël Bühler

    (GiM-IREA, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.)

Abstract

We study how the privatisation of urban water is being challenged in Catalonia, which has a high proportion of private management and a high degree of monopolisation in the water contract market, compared to Spain. We use detailed and up-to-date municipal data to study the dynamics of monopolisation and remunicipalisation. We find that remunicipalisation, rather than potential competition for contracts, is a remedy against monopolisation. Inter-municipal cooperation in Catalonia facilitated the implementation of remunicipalisation in smaller municipalities. In addition, we analyse the democratisation of water management following remunicipalisation and find that progress was modest, both in Catalonia and in Spain.

Suggested Citation

  • Germà Bel & Joël Bühler, 2025. "Privatisation and Remunicipalisation of Urban Water in Catalonia: Between Monopolisation, State and the Commons," IREA Working Papers 202503, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ira:wpaper:202503
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    File URL: http://www.ub.edu/irea/working_papers/2025/202503.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shaikh, Anwar, 2016. "Capitalism: Competition, Conflict, Crises," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199390632, Decembrie.
    2. Judith Clifton & Mildred E. Warner & Raymond Gradus & Germà Bel, 2021. "Re-municipalization of public services: trend or hype?," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3), pages 293-304, July.
    3. David Hall & Emanuele Lobina & Philipp Terhorst, 2013. "Re-municipalisation in the early twenty-first century: water in France and energy in Germany," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 193-214, March.
    4. Míriam Planas Martín & Dante Maschio Gastelaars & Quim Pérez Gómez, 2022. "Remunicipalisation in Catalonia: Strategies and Responses," Development, Palgrave Macmillan;Society for International Deveopment, vol. 65(2), pages 228-236, December.
    5. Jorge Garcia-Arias & Hug March & Nuria Alonso & Mar Satorras, 2022. "Public water without (public) financial mediation? Remunicipalizing water in Valladolid, Spain," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(5), pages 733-750, July.
    6. Albalate, Daniel & Bel, Germà & González-Gómez, Francisco & Picazo-Tadeo, Andrés J., 2022. "Legislative reforms and market dynamics in the provision of urban water service by private contract operators in Spain," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • B50 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - General
    • D42 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Monopoly
    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods

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