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Electricity in Quebec before Nationalization, 1919 to 1939

Author

Listed:
  • Vincent Geloso

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Germain Belzile

    (HEC Montréal)

Abstract

History books tend to depict the early days of the electrical industry as one of monopoly where consumers were being gouged. The province of Quebec in Canada was no exception. With the use of wide-ranging data over time, we observe a different portrait: electrical firms in Quebec increased production faster than elsewhere while prices fell consistently. The main reason for this divergence between facts and history books is most likely the choice of comparing Quebec’s private industry with Ontario’s nationalized industry, which priced electricity at the average cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent Geloso & Germain Belzile, 2018. "Electricity in Quebec before Nationalization, 1919 to 1939," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 46(1), pages 101-119, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:46:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s11293-018-9568-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-018-9568-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Germain Belzile & Rosolino A. Candela & Vincent Geloso, 2022. "Regulatory capture and the dynamics of interventionism: the case of power utilities in Quebec and Ontario to 1944," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 193(1), pages 35-61, October.
    2. Jason Dean & Vincent Geloso, 2022. "The linguistic wage gap in Quebec, 1901 to 1951," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 16(3), pages 615-637, September.
    3. Vincent Geloso, 2022. "Statogenic climate change? Julian Simon and Institutions," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 35(3), pages 343-358, September.

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