Sector Organization, Governance, and the Inefficiency of African Water Utilities

21 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Antonio Estache

Antonio Estache

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - European Center for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics (ECARES)

Eugene Kouassi

University of Montreal - Department of Economics

Date Written: September 2002

Abstract

Estache and Kouassi analyze the determinants of the efficiency levels reached by 21 African water utilities. They assess efficiency through the estimation of a production frontier for the sector in Africa. The efficiency estimates confirm much of the common perceptions from partial productivity indicators. They point to a great heterogeneity in the African water utilities' performances, the predominance of constant returns to scale, and the great rate of technological progress. And the authors show that the institutional capacity of the country, as well as its governance quality, are significant driving factors in the performance of each firm.

This paper - a product of the Governance, Regulation, and Finance Division, World Bank Institute - is part of a larger effort in the institute to promote the understanding of regulatory issues.

Suggested Citation

Estache, Antonio and Kouassi, Eugene, Sector Organization, Governance, and the Inefficiency of African Water Utilities (September 2002). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=636253

Antonio Estache (Contact Author)

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) - European Center for Advanced Research in Economics and Statistics (ECARES) ( email )

Ave. Franklin D Roosevelt, 50 - C.P. 114
Brussels, B-1050
Belgium
32 (0)2 6503838 (Phone)

Eugene Kouassi

University of Montreal - Department of Economics ( email )

C.P. 6128, succursale Centre-Ville
Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7
Canada
514-343-6557 (Phone)
514-343-5831 (Fax)