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Pricing with changing welfare criterion: An application of Ramsey-Wilson model to urban water supply

Author

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  • K. Pushpangadan

    (Centre for Development Studies)

  • G. Murugan

    (Centre for Development Studies)

Abstract

Tariff rates based on Ramsey - Wilson model of changing welfare criterion satisfying equity and efficiency have been estimated for three categories of consumers of an urban water supply in India. The design necessitates values of marginal cost and price elasticity. Paucity of data severely restricts estimation of marginal cost compelling to use breakeven as proxy. Price elasticity is obtained from household expenditure data by applying recoverability theory suggested by Pollak and Wales. The effect of household composition on elasticity has been eliminated by expressing variables on a per capita basis using adult equivalent scale (AES). Calculation of AES for water is based on Prais-Houthakker incremental method. The scale indicates that it is totally different from Amsterdam scale, the AES of food. Maximum welfare is given to small quantity consumers by charging a rate below breakeven combined with a subsidy arising from the surplus generated in the markup of large quantity consumers. The middle group is charged only the breakeven rate. The model can be generalised to any number of groups by assigning different welfare weights ranging from zero to one. The model breaks down if the rate exceeds stand-alone cost.

Suggested Citation

  • K. Pushpangadan & G. Murugan, 1998. "Pricing with changing welfare criterion: An application of Ramsey-Wilson model to urban water supply," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 287, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.
    • Handle: RePEc:ind:cdswpp:287
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brown,Stephen J. & Sibley,David Sumner, 1986. "The Theory of Public Utility Pricing," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521314008, September.
    2. Baumol, William J & Bradford, David F, 1970. "Optimal Departures from Marginal Cost Pricing," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 60(3), pages 265-283, June.
    3. Rajah, N & Smith, S, 1993. "Distributional effects of household water charges," Fiscal Studies, Institute for Fiscal Studies, vol. 14(3), pages 86-108, August.
    4. Robert M. Clark & Richard G. Stevie, 1981. "A Water Supply Cost Model Incorporating Spatial Variables," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 57(1), pages 18-32.
    5. Wilson, Robert, 1997. "Nonlinear Pricing," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780195115826.
    6. Deaton, Angus, 1974. "A Reconsideration of the Empirical Implications of Additive Preferences," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 84(334), pages 338-348, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. N. Vijayamohanan Pillai, 2004. "CES function, generalised mean and human poverty index: Exploring some links," Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers 360, Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tariff rates; second best prices; adult equivalent scale; welfare weights; stand alone cost;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • D4 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water

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