Abstract
The future of the postal sector remains a major topic. The Internet continues to alter the mix of mail and parcels in postal and delivery markets. Digital disruptions continue to reshape the habits of users and consequently all the underlying markets.
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Notes
- 1.
The same NRAs often are also responsible for media regulation, i.e., communication to the public.
- 2.
In 2016, the ERGP issued a Report on Universal Services in light of changing postal end users´ needs. Its aim was precisely to understand users’ want and needs, in other words to look at the USO from the demand side. To do so, it gathered a number of study issues in various Member States to compare them and identify common sets. However, the methodologies used in the different reports were so different that a clear comparison turned out to be hard, which made the ERGP propose a suggestion to design users’ surveys. In 2017, an ERGP Report on the quality of service, consumer protection, and complaint handling – an analysis of trends followed. An interesting discussion, on the concept of “postal user’s needs,” well related to our paper, is in Gottschalk (2019), in this volume.
- 3.
Postal Services Directive (97/67/EC, amended by Directives 2002/39/EC and 2008/6/EC).
- 4.
Id.
- 5.
European Commission (2017), COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT, Europe’s Digital Progress Report.
- 6.
https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1315&langId=en (last access 31/07/2019).
- 7.
“The role of postal services is significantly changing. Their significance as a means of communication or exchange of information is diminishing due to e-substitution. In contrast, the relevance of postal services as a means to deliver goods is continuingly increasing due to the growth of e-commerce,” ERGP (2019a at t).
- 8.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-4070_en.htm (last access 31/07/2019).
- 9.
De Streel and Peitz (De streel and Peitz 2015, p. 3).
- 10.
ERGP (2019b, p. 20) continues, “In this respect also, Member States show significant differences. It is therefore important that a regulatory framework affords Member States sufficient flexibility to find solutions suitable to their respective national circumstances. This may for example include that specific measures are taken to provide for the interests of specific users’ groups, instead of imposing a general universal service obligation on one or more postal operators.”
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Gori, P., Parcu, P.L. (2020). Postal and Electronic Communications Services: Together Again?. In: Parcu, P.L., Brennan, T.J., Glass, V. (eds) The Changing Postal Environment. Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-34532-7_1
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