Skip to main content
Log in

State-owned enterprises as indirect instruments of entry regulation

  • Published:
Journal of Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the context of mixed markets, Matsumura and Kanda (J Econ 84(1): 27–48, 2005) show that social welfare in free entry equilibrium is maximized when there exists a public firm in the market. En passant, these authors state that this outcome is connected to the entry-deterring influence of a public firm. In this way, they counter-act the excess entry problem of Mankiw and Whinston (Rand J Econ 17(1): 48–58, 1986). We explain this result arguing that the state-owned firm can be an indirect instrument to regulate entry. In fact, under free entry equilibrium welfare may be greater with the presence of a public firm than with a social planner.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bradburd R (1995). Privatization of natural monopoly public enterprises – the regulation issue. Rev Ind Organ 10(3): 247–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabral LMB (2004). Simultaneous entry and welfare. Eur Econ Rev 48: 943–957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cremer H, Marchand M and Thisse JF (1989). The public firm as an instrument for regulating an oligopolistic market. Oxf Econ Pap 41: 283–301

    Google Scholar 

  • De Fraja G and Delbono F (1989). Alternative strategies of a public enterprise in oligopoly. Oxf Econ Pap 41: 302–311

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Souza J, Megginson W and Nash R (2005). Effect of institutional and firm-specific characteristics on post-privatization performance: Evidence from developed countries. J Corp Finance 11(5): 747–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garvie D and Ware R (1996). Public firms as regulatory instruments with cost uncertainty. Can J Econ 29(2): 357–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris RG and Wiens E (1980). Government enterprise: an instrument for the internal regulation of industry. Can J Econ 13(1): 125–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kikeri S and Nellis J (2004). An assessment of privatization. World Bank Res Obs 19(1): 87–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mankiw NG and Whinston MD (1986). Free entry and social inefficiency. Rand J Econ 17(1): 48–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumura T and Kanda O (2005). Mixed oligopoly at free entry markets. J Econ 84(1): 27–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Megginson WL and Netter JM (2001). From state to market: a survey of empirical studies on privatization. J Econ Lit 39: 321–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Megginson WL and Sutter NL (2006). Privatisation in developing countries. Corp Gov Int Rev 14(4): 234–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okten C and Arin KP (2006). The effects of privatization on efficiency: how does privatization work. World Dev 34(9): 1537–1556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shleifer A and Vishny R (1994). Politicians and firms. Q J Econ 109: 995–1025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vickers J, Yarrow G (1988) Privatization: an economic analysis. MIT Press Series on the Regulation of Economic Activity, vol 18. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA

  • Willner J (1996). Privatisation of natural monopolies – comment. Rev Ind Organ 11(6): 869–882

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Brandão.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brandão, A., Castro, S. State-owned enterprises as indirect instruments of entry regulation. J Econ 92, 263–274 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00712-007-0286-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00712-007-0286-y

Keywords

JEL Classifications

Navigation