Bolivian capitalization and privatization: Approximation to an evaluation

Barja, Gover and McKenzie, David and Urquiola, Miguel (2004): Bolivian capitalization and privatization: Approximation to an evaluation. Published in: Reality Check: The Distributional Impact of Privatization in Developing Countries. Edited by John Nellis and Nancy Birdsall , Vol. Chapte, No. Book (October 2005): pp. 123-177.

Abstract

The wave of privatizations Latin America experienced during the 1990s was integral to stabilization programs and a general reordering of states’ roles in the regional economy. Over the past few years, however, these privatizations have come under increasing fire. Their purported adverse effects range from higher utility prices to aggravating—or even causing—the current regional recession. In short, privatization shares in the criticism directed at the entire liberalization process. Within this context, accurate knowledge of privatization’s real consequences can be of considerable value. While research has been conducted on certain economic effects, less is known about privatization’s broader social consequences. This chapter attempts to fill some of those gaps as they concern Bolivia.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Commentary on: Barja, Gover and Urquiola, Miguel (2003): Capitalization and Privatization in Bolivia: An Aproximation to an Evaluation.
• Language: English
• Keywords: Privatization; Industrial Organization and Regulation; Firm Performance; Consumer Welfare; Political Economy
• Subjects: L - Industrial Organization > L2 - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior > L25 - Firm Performance: Size, Diversification, and Scope; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L96 - Telecommunications; L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L95 - Gas Utilities ; Pipelines ; Water Utilities; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L91 - Transportation: General; L - Industrial Organization > L7 - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction > L71 - Mining, Extraction, and Refining: Hydrocarbon Fuels; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L94 - Electric Utilities; P - Economic Systems > P4 - Other Economic Systems > P46 - Consumer Economics ; Health ; Education and Training ; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

References

Ajwad, I. and Q. Wodon. 2000. Bolivia Poverty Assessment. LACPREM, World Bank. Mimeo.

Baldivia, J. 1998. La Capitalización, in Las Reformas Estructurales en Bolivia. La Paz: Fundación Milenio.

Barja, G., D. McKenzie and M. Urquiola. 2004. “Capitalization and Privatization in Bolivia: An Approximation to an Evaluation”, Center for Global Development Working Paper

Barja, G. and M. Urquiola. 2003. Capitalization, Regulation and the Poor: Access to Basic Services in Bolivia, in C. Ugaz and C. Waddams Price, eds, Utility privatization and regulation: A fair deal for consumers? Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc.

Deaton, A. 1989. “Rice Prices and Income Distribution in Thailand: a non-parametric approach.” The Economic Journal 99: 1-37.

Ennis, H. and S. Pinto. 2002. Privatization and Income Distribution in Argentina, West Virginia University. Mimeo.

Estache, A., V. Foster, and Q. Wodon. 2002. Accounting for Poverty in Infrastructure Reform: Learning from Latin America's Experience. WBI Development Studies.

Estache, A., A. Gomez-Lobo, and D. Leipziger. 2000. Utility Privatization and the Needs of the Poor in Latin America. Have We Learned Enough to Get It Right? World Bank Working Paper.

Finnegan, W. 2002. “Letter from Bolivia: Leasing the Rain.” The New Yorker (April 8).

Foster, J., J. Greer, and E. Thorbecke. 1984. “A class of decomposable poverty measures.” Econometrica 52: 761-65.

Foster, V. 1999. Literature Review for the Regional Studies Project on Privatization and Infrastructure Services for the Urban Poor. Washington, DC: LACSFP, World Bank.

Government of Bolivia (GOB). 2001. Bolivia: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Mimeo.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 2001. Yearbook of Statistics: Telecommunication Services 1991-2000. ITU: Geneva.

Gomez-Lobo, A., V. Foster, and J. Halpern. 1999. Informational and Modeling Issues Related to Water Subsidy Design. LACFSP, World Bank. Mimeo.

Hernany, W. 2000. La Pobreza en Bolivia: Perfiles, Determinantes y Políticas de alivio. Periodo: 1989-1997. La Paz: Departamento de Economía, Universidad Católica Boliviana. Tesis de grado.

Jemio, L.C. and E. Antelo, eds. 2000. Quince Años de Reformas Estructurales en Bolivia: Sus Impactos sobre Inversión, Crecimiento y Equidad. Bolivian Catholic University and ECLAC/United Nations.

McKenzie, D. and D. Mookherjee. 2003. “The Distributive Impact of Privatization in Latin America: An Overview of Evidence from Four Countries.” Economia 3, no. 2:161-218.

Pierce, M., ed. 1997. Capitalization: A Bolivian Model of Social and Economic Reform. Miami: North South Center and Woodrow Wilson Center, University of Miami.

SIRESE. 2000. La Regulación Sectorial en Bolivia, 1999. Annual Report. Superintendencia General.

SITTEL. 2000. Regulación de las Telecomunicaciones en Bolivia. La Paz: Informe de la Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones.

Waddams Price, C. and R. Hancock. 2000. Distributional Effects of Liberalizing UK Residential Utility Markets. Coventry: University of Warwick, Centre for Management under Regulation. Mimeo.

Wolak, F. 1996. “The Welfare Impacts of Competitive Telecommunications Supply: A Household-Level Analysis.” Brookings Papers on Economic Activity. Microeconomics: 269-350.

World Bank. 2000. Bolivia: Poverty Diagnostic 2000. Washington, DC: World Bank. Mimeo.