Publication: Liberalization and Universal Access to Basic Services : Telecommunications, Water and Sanitation, Financial Services, and Electricity
Date
2006
ISSN
Published
2006
Author(s)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
World Bank
Abstract
Access to basic services plays an
important role in both individual well-being and a
country's economic development. For this reason,
general availability of these services to citizens,
regardless of income level and geographical location, has
generally been viewed as an important public policy goal.
However, the precise definition of this goal and the means
of attaining it have provoked controversy. This volume
explores whether liberalization can contribute to achieving
universal service goals and, if so, how, and looks at the
types of complementary policies that may be required. It
focuses on experience in four sectors: telecommunications,
financial, water and sanitation, and energy services. For
each sector, an overview paper and one or two case studies
from developing countries examine the experience of
governments in harnessing liberalization to meet social
goals. It is hoped that this cross-sector view will yield
general insights which a focus on a single sector may not,
and help each sector to generate ideas by drawing upon
experience in other sectors. A horizontal assessment also
helps to determine how far the services negotiations at the
World Trade Organization (WTO), under the general agreement
on trade in services can aid or impede the attainment of
universal service goals.
Citation
“Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; World Bank. 2006. Liberalization and Universal Access to Basic Services : Telecommunications, Water and Sanitation, Financial Services, and Electricity. OECD trade policy studies;. © OECD and the World Bank, Paris. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/0b9fcc6a-5c6d-5c1a-8ea2-19633feece19 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”