Utility Privatization and the Needs of the Poor in Latin America : Have We Learned Enough to Get It Right?

[摘要] Efforts to reform utilities can affectpoor households in varied, often complex, ways, but it is byno means certain that such reform will hurt vulnerablehouseholds. Many myths have been perpetuated in discussionsof utility reform - and in many cases poor households havebenefited from reform. What is amazing is the extent towhich governments, and their advisors - sometimes includingmultilateral organizations - fail to measure, anticipate,and monitor how the privatization of utilities actuallyaffects the poor. Many questions must still be answeredbefore good general guidelines can be drawn, but the authorsoffer many suggestions about how social, regulatory, andprivatization policy, can increase the benefits of utilityreform for poor households. The good news is that manymeasures can be taken to improve the chances that poorhouseholds will benefit from reform. Chief among these ispromoting competition, where possible. Essentially what isneeded is political commitment to doing the right thing. Ifpolicy is weak before privatization, it is going to be weakafter privatization as well. Privatization is no substitutefor responsible policy on redistribution.

[发布机构] World Bank, Washington, DC

[学科分类] 社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

[关键词] ACCOUNTING;ACTUAL COSTS;AIC;ASSETS;CONCESSION CONTRACTS