Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2004
Abstract
A Concept Paper presented on the regulatory reforms which cover a wide range of ideas and policies, including privatization, liberalization, competition, and the establishment of independent regulatory regimes. The paper focuses on two aspects of decision making: (1) the types of interests and values that are regularly considered in shaping privatization decisions, whether they be related to various development goals, social goals, external considerations, or intangible factors; (2) the political-economic aspect, namely, the institutional features of any system that give preference, weight, or force to any particular argument, recommendation, or claim. Item two has been particularly under-attended in prior research. The literature brings to light good theoretical understanding of the likely effects of privatization and competition and of the importance of regulation, as a monopoly service provider such as a state controlled telecommunications entity is privatized. Following this paper's Concept Definition Phase, the research moves into the more dynamic Qualitative Phase during which the author will interview scholars and executives who have been involved in advisory work to governments on telecommunications sector reforms, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity building, for practical understanding of the interplay of three broad sets of variables that this Concept Paper discusses: 1. Motivation for privatization 2. Interests and values of interest groups, and 3. Their impact on policy makers that determine the nature of privatization. The author suggests that this practical understanding is crucial in obtaining a clear, strategic, and wise answer to the research question: under what circumstances clash between institutions making regulatory policy decisions and interests and values of interest groups is the likely result and under what circumstances the privatization decision is likely to translate into behavior that is consistent with development goals (as manifested in the motivation for privatization).
Keywords
telecommunications
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Maitra, Amit K., "Privatization, Liberalization, and Regulatory Reform: The Case of Telecommunications" (2004). Student Scholarship. 344.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/344