Citizens, Public Services and European Regulation: The Spanish Case (in Spanish)

CIRIEC España Revista de Economía Pública Social y Cooperativa, 2011

22 Pages Posted: 20 Feb 2011 Last revised: 15 Mar 2011

See all articles by Judith Clifton

Judith Clifton

University of Cantabria

Daniel Díaz-Fuentes

Universidad de Cantabria; Universidad de Cantabria, Department of Economics

Marcos Fernández-Gutiérrez

University of Cantabria

Julio Revuelta

University of Cantabria - Department of Economics

Date Written: February 16, 2011

Abstract

The ongoing financial crisis has exacerbated concerns about the need to redefine the role and characteristics of regulation. In the case of public services, deregulation was justified by the benefits that would accrue to consumers, though scant attention was paid to actual consumer experience in regulatory design. New European regulatory policies of public services argue that citizens’ perspective should be considered, with the aim of improving markets functioning whilst protecting the general interest. Decisions and attitudes of citizens in Spain about two public services, electricity and telecommunications, are analysed. The novelty of this article is to contrast revealed and stated preferences, a methodology which has not yet been used in analysing public service use. Results show when and how socio-economic variables interfere in service use and satisfaction, and conclusions indicate how the results could be used to formulate policy which better addresses issues of social inclusiveness.

Note: Downloadable document is in Spanish.

Keywords: Public services, regulation, citizens, consumers

JEL Classification: D12, D18, F15, L97, L98

Suggested Citation

Clifton, Judith and Diaz-Fuentes, Daniel and Diaz-Fuentes, Daniel and Fernández-Gutiérrez, Marcos and Revuelta, Julio, Citizens, Public Services and European Regulation: The Spanish Case (in Spanish) (February 16, 2011). CIRIEC España Revista de Economía Pública Social y Cooperativa, 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1762644

Judith Clifton

University of Cantabria ( email )

Avda. Los Castros, s/n
Santander 39005
Spain

Daniel Diaz-Fuentes

Universidad de Cantabria ( email )

Av. Los Castros s/n
Santander 39005, Cantabria 39005
Spain
+34 942201624 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://personales.unican.es/diazd/

Universidad de Cantabria, Department of Economics ( email )

Av. Los Castros s/n
Santander 39005, Cantabria 39005
Spain
+34 942201624 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://personales.unican.es/diazd/

Marcos Fernández-Gutiérrez (Contact Author)

University of Cantabria ( email )

Avda. Los Castros, s/n
Santander 39005
Spain

Julio Revuelta

University of Cantabria - Department of Economics ( email )

Av. Los Castros s/n
Santander 39005, Cantabria 39005
Spain

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