Competition and Regulation Times. November 2002. Issue 9.

Abstract

• Title: Capping network profits in a world of bad news Abstract: The often-fierce debate that surrounds the amount of profit a regulated monopoly should earn is usually focused on the regulatory rate of return. Why? Because traditional static analysis of regulation suggests that not much else is important. Yet as we know life isn't static, it is very much dynamic. The latest ISCR research from Lewis Evans and Graeme Guthrie looks at the dynamic efficiency of regulation and reveals that an often-neglected piece of the puzzle may be fundamentally important. Author: Lewis Evans, Graeme Guthrie
• Title: Measuring the benefits of the brave new world Abstract: We need to take a new perspective, says ISCR's Bronwyn Howell. Author: Bronwyn Howell Title: Welcome to your public hospital Abstract: You are now entering a morally hazardous zone. Bronwyn Howell investigates. Author: Bronwyn Howell Title: Why are New Zealanders so wealthy? asks Arthur Grimes Abstract: It is commonplace in New Zealand to bemoan our fall in living standards relative to the rest of the developed world. In 1950 New Zealand ranked third in the OECD in terms of GDP per head. That position has fallen to 20th by 1998 and recently Spain passed New Zealand relegating us to 21st place. Government has recently expressed an explicit aim to return New Zealand to the top half of the 28 OECD countries in terms of income per head. Author: Arthur Grimes
• Title: Rules of conduct Abstract: The difficulty in fashioning rules to draw the distinction between legitimate competitive rivalry and unlawful predation is that both forms of conduct often look alike, says Mark Berry. In this article he looks at evolving trends in the analysis of monopolistic conduct. Author: Mark Berry
• Title: Taxing Privilege Abstract: Proposed changes to the use of legal privilege could reduce the efficiency of tax collection in New Zealand according to a new paper by ISCR's Bronwyn Howell and Lisa Marriott Author: Bronwyn Howell, Lisa Marriott
• Title: Broadband: Why is it so long? Abstract: Many telcos around the world have invested in broadband infrastructure on the basis 'build it and they will come', yet demand has been slow to grow. Bronwyn Howell and Mark Obren investigate. Author: Bronwyn Howell, Mark Obren
• Title: Vernon Smith - Nobel Laureate Abstract: Economists regard him as a frontiers-man and it's not just because of his trademark string tie and cowboy boots. Judy Kavanagh explains. Author: Judy Kavanagh