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Inefficiency in Japanese water utility firms: a stochastic frontier approach

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  • Michelle Phillips
Abstract
I examine inefficiencies in Japanese water utility companies. Efficiency in this context is defined as a firm’s capacity to maximize output given a fixed level of inputs. The findings suggest that the average operation rate, customer density and size variables are associated with lower levels of inefficiency (or higher levels of efficiency), while water purification (a conditioning variable capturing low initial water quality), subsidies and outsourcing are associated with higher levels of inefficiency. Since inefficiency exists, there is an opportunity to improve Japanese water utilities by working on emulating “best practice” firms whenever possible and by providing a regulatory framework that can set appropriate incentive schemes to do so. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle Phillips, 2013. "Inefficiency in Japanese water utility firms: a stochastic frontier approach," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 197-214, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:regeco:v:44:y:2013:i:2:p:197-214
    DOI: 10.1007/s11149-013-9225-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fan Li & Michelle Andrea Phillips, 2017. "The Influence of the Regulatory Environment on Chinese Urban Water Utilities," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(1), pages 205-218, January.
    2. Li, Fan & Phillips, Michelle, 2016. "The Influence Of Regulation And The Operational Environment On Chinese Urban Water Utilities," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235160, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Filippini, M. & Greene, W. & Masiero, G., 2018. "Persistent and transient productive inefficiency in a regulated industry: electricity distribution," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 325-334.
    4. Ben Amor, Tawfik & Mellah, Thuraya, 2023. "Cost efficiency of Tunisian water utility districts: Does heterogeneity matter?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Liu, Junqing & Fukushige, Mototsugu, 2020. "Efficiency and pricing of water supply and sewerage services in Japan," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Water utility regulation; Japan water utilities; Stochastic frontier analysis; L51; L95;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L95 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities

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