Module Identifier EC31610  
Module Title PRIVATISATION AND REGULATORY ECONOMICS  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Mark J Rhodes  
Semester Semester 2  
Pre-Requisite EC30230 or (EC31410 and EC36420)  
Course delivery Lecture   10 Hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   4 Hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam1.5 Hours  80%
Semester Assessment Essay20%

Learning outcomes

On completing this module students will:


Aims

This third year semester 2 module discusses the privatisation, and approaches to regulation, of public utility companies. We start from an explanation of the size, cost and market structure for these sectors. The case for privatisation and the welfare arguments for regulation are then examined. Different approaches to regulation are discussed and their application and experience in practice are examined. Topics will be presented in formal lectures and discussed in smaller classes. Independent work through reading, discussion and the completion of exercises is an integral part of the learning process for the module.

Reading Lists

Books
M Armstrong, S Cowan and J Vickers (1994) Regulatory Reform: Economic Analysis and British Experience MIT Press
J Vickers and G Yarrow (1988) Privatisation: An economic analysis MIT Press
S Martin and D Parker (1997) The impact of privatisation: Ownership and corporate performance in the UK Routledge
M Waterson (1988) Regulation of the firm and natural monopoly Blackwell
P M Jackson and C M Price (1994) Privatisation and regulation: a review of the issues Longman

Articles
I Stelzer (Nov, 2000) A review of privatisation and regulation experience in Britain IEA Lecture, Source http://www.iea.org.uk/wpapers/regstelzer2000
D Helm (2001) Making Britain more competitive: A critique of regulation and competition policy Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Vol.48, No.5, pp.471-487.

Books
D Newbery (1999) Privatisation, restructuring and regulation of network utilities MIT Press

Articles
D Newbery (1997) Privatisation and liberalisation of network utilities European Economic Review 41, pp.357-383

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6