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Economies of vertical integration and economies of scope in the water and sewerage sector: Some comments in the light of international empirical evidence
Journal Title: ECONOMIA PUBBLICA  
Author/s:  Anna Bottasso, Maurizio Conti 
Year:  2021 Issue: 3 Language: Italian 
Pages:  40 Pg. 89-128 FullText PDF:  351 KB
DOI:  10.3280/EP2021-003005
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In this paper we address two very relevant issues in the economic debate on the optimal configuration of the water and sewerage industry. In particular, it dis-cusses the international empirical literature that has analyzed the existence of possible economies of scope arising from the joint management of retail and wholesale water services. In this regard, the majority of the studies reviewed tend to identify the existence of non-negligible economies of vertical integration, es-pecially in the case of small and medium-sized operators. In addition, empirical evidence is reviewed regarding the presence of economies of scope between the wastewater treatment and disposal service and the remain-ing parts of the Integrated Water Service chain. From these works it seems to be possible to conclude that economies of scope exist between (some of) the com-ponents of the water and sewerage chain for small and medium sized compa-nies. In particular, such economies would be present in the segments where it is easier to share certain production factors, in addition to technical-managerial expertise, such as the segment related to water purification and that of wastewater treatment and disposal. Finally, the paper discusses the applicability of these results to the Italian case
Keywords: water industry, economies of scope, vertical integration
Jel Code: L51, L95

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Anna Bottasso, Maurizio Conti, Economies of vertical integration and economies of scope in the water and sewerage sector: Some comments in the light of international empirical evidence in "ECONOMIA PUBBLICA " 3/2021, pp. 89-128, DOI:10.3280/EP2021-003005

   

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