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What future for the post office network?

Author

Listed:
  • Christian Jaag

    (Swiss Economics, Switzerland)

  • Matthias Finger

    (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract

Incumbent postal operators (POs) are particularly challenged with rapid technological developments and especially with digitalization which substitutes their letter mail, yet generally boosts parcel volumes. As a consequence, they have to rethink their strategy, especially for their post office network. The article presents potential strategies and discusses the main trends in postal network evolution among incumbent POs, focusing in particular on the examples of Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Italy, and the United States, and assesses these strategies against a set of key performance and development indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Jaag & Matthias Finger, 2017. "What future for the post office network?," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 18(3-4), pages 153-174, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:crnind:v:18:y:2017:i:3-4:p:153-174
    DOI: 10.1177/1783591717741789
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christian Jaag & Helmut Dietl, 2011. "Postal and Regulatory Reform in Intermodal Competition," Working Papers 0031, Swiss Economics.
    2. Martin Buser & Christian Jaag & Urs Trinkner, 2008. "Economics of Post Office Networks: Strategic Issues and the Impact on Mail Demand," Chapters, in: Michael A. Crew & Paul R. Kleindofer & James I. Campbell Jr (ed.), Handbook of Worldwide Postal Reform, chapter 5, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Michael Crew & Timothy J. Brennan (ed.), 2016. "The Future of the Postal Sector in a Digital World," Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy, Springer, number 978-3-319-24454-9, June.
    4. Christian Jaag & Martin Maegli, 2015. "Market Regulations and USO in the Revised Swiss Postal Act: Provisions and Authorities," Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy, in: Michael A. Crew & Timothy J. Brennan (ed.), Postal and Delivery Innovation in the Digital Economy, edition 127, pages 301-311, Springer.
    5. Christian Jaag & Jose Parra Moyano & Urs Trinkner, 2016. "Postal Strategies in a Digital Age," Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy, in: Michael Crew & Timothy J. Brennan (ed.), The Future of the Postal Sector in a Digital World, pages 103-120, Springer.
    6. Michael A. Crew & Timothy J. Brennan (ed.), 2015. "Postal and Delivery Innovation in the Digital Economy," Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy, Springer, edition 127, number 978-3-319-12874-0, June.
    7. Jaag, Christian, 2014. "Postal-sector policy: From monopoly to regulated competition and beyond," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 266-277.
    8. Helmuth Cremer & Philippe De Donder & François Boldron & Bernard Roy, 2008. "Social Costs and Benefits of the Universal Service Obligation in the Postal Market," Chapters, in: Michael A. Crew & Paul R. Kleindorfer (ed.), Competition and Regulation in the Postal and Delivery Sector, chapter 2, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katarina Mostarac & Petar Mostarac & Zvonko Kavran & Dragana Šarac, 2022. "Determining Optimal Locations of Postal Access Points Based on Simulated Annealing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Postal network; postal strategy; network development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L43 - Industrial Organization - - Antitrust Issues and Policies - - - Legal Monopolies and Regulation or Deregulation
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation

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