A Quarter Century Effort Yet to Come of Age : A Survey of Power Sector Reforms in Developing Countries
It has been more than two decades since the widespread initiation of global power sector reforms and restructuring. However, empirical evidence on the intended microeconomic, macroeconomic, and quality-related impacts of reforms across developing c...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2015/06/24687055/quarter-century-effort-yet-come-age-survey-power-sector-reforms-developing-countries http://hdl.handle.net/10986/22211 |
| Summary: | It has been more than two decades since
the widespread initiation of global power sector reforms and
restructuring. However, empirical evidence on the intended
microeconomic, macroeconomic, and quality-related impacts of
reforms across developing countries is lacking. This paper
comprehensively reviews the empirical and theoretical
literature on the linkages between power sector reforms,
economic and technical efficiency, and poverty reduction.
The review finds that the extent of power sector reforms has
varied across developing countries in terms of changes in
market structures, the role of the state, and the regulation
of the sector. Overall, the reforms have improved the
efficiency and productivity in the sector among many
reforming countries. However, the efficiency gains have not
always reached the end consumers because of the inability of
sector regulators and inadequate regulatory frameworks.
Reforms alleviate poverty and promote the welfare of the
poor only when the poor have access to electricity. From a
policy-making perspective, this implies that the reforms
need to be supplemented with additional measures for
accelerating electrification to help the poor. |
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