Overview
- Traces the historical development of the network utilities sector in Australia
- Highlights main drivers and motivations for governments establishing government-owned business
- Explores the degree to which government-owned businesses are successful at achieving these aims
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Table of contents (15 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Setting the Framework
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Front Matter
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The Construction of the New Infrastructure: The Nineteenth Century
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Front Matter
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A New Nation and Its Networks: 1901 to 1945
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Front Matter
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The Post-war Era: 1945 to 1988
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Front Matter
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Conclusion
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Front Matter
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Keywords
- Network utilities
- Economics
- Australian history
- Monopolies
- Australian economic development
- Australian network utilities
- Infrastructure development in Australia
- Railway development in Australia
- Development of telecommunications in Australia
- Urban amenities in Australia
- Economic policy in Australia
- Service delivery in Australia
- Productivity growth in Australia
About this book
This book traces the historical development of the network utilities sector in Australia (communications, rail, gas, electricity, water supply, and sewerage services). It looks across industries, time periods and the state and federal jurisdictions, to identify what motivated the various governments to establish these enterprises and what issues arose. The book is therefore informed by the relationship between politics and society on the one hand and economic history on the other; as well as the efforts of governments in Australia to promote economic growth and the wealth of Australians. The main focus of the book is to identify and analyse the following two main questions: (i) What were the main drivers and motivations for governments establishing government-owned business in the network utilities sector? (ii) To what degree were these government-owned businesses successful at achieving the aims of these governments? In doing so the inherent characteristics of these industries areidentified, in terms of their need for rights of way, network effects, the monopoly characteristics, and the potential for stimulating growth.
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Malcolm Abbott is an economist by profession who specialises in research in energy markets, water supply, transport, and network industries in general. In the past he has worked for the ACCC, KPMG, as a Ministerial Advisor, and as an Associate Professor of Economics at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne.
Bruce Cohen is a private consultant and former barrister who has worked extensively in the energy and water sectors in Australia. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from The Australian National University and has been a member of the board of directors of a number of utility companies, a Commissioner of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, and a former Chair of VicTrack and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Monopoly Control
Book Subtitle: Government Ownership and Control of Network Utility Industries in Australia from 1788 to 1988
Authors: Malcolm Abbott, Bruce Cohen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2726-5
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Singapore
eBook Packages: Economics and Finance, Economics and Finance (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023
Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-99-2725-8Published: 24 May 2023
Softcover ISBN: 978-981-99-2728-9Published: 25 May 2024
eBook ISBN: 978-981-99-2726-5Published: 23 May 2023
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVI, 376
Number of Illustrations: 54 b/w illustrations, 3 illustrations in colour
Topics: Economic History, Public Policy, History, general, Public Policy