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The measurement of scope, scale and diversification economies: How (in)efficient is electricity restructuring and unbundling?

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  • Pablo Arocena

    (Universidad Pública de Navarra)

Abstract

This paper estimates the degree of economies of scope, diversification and scale in the Spanish electricity industry by means of Data Envelopment Analysis. Our results show that there exist economies of integrating power generation and distribution, as well as economies of product diversification at the generation stage. Particularly, the hypothetical vertical unbundling and the generating product specialization of the existing diversified firms would raise the total operating costs of the Spanish electricity sector by 4.7 and 3.5 percent respectively. Additionally, size appears to be irrelevant provided that vertical scope and product-mix are preserved. Further, it is estimated that overall operating costs of the sector could be reduced by 2.7% by partitioning each of the diversified firms down the middle. In addition to improving firms? scale efficiency, such fragmentation would help to create a more competitive market structure.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Arocena, 2005. "The measurement of scope, scale and diversification economies: How (in)efficient is electricity restructuring and unbundling?," Working Papers 2005/1, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    • Handle: RePEc:ieb:wpaper:doc2005-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kristof Witte & Rui Marques, 2011. "Big and beautiful? On non-parametrically measuring scale economies in non-convex technologies," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 213-226, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    DEA; Diversification; Economies of scope; Electricity; Scale efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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