Die Ökonomie der (ländlichen) Wasserversorgung

This paper deals with the optimal organisation of the water supplying industry by having a close look on the basic characteristics of water as a economic good as well as the specific structure of production. After the formal description of the individual stages of production and the real organisation of the German water sector, different models for the sector organisation are briefly being considered. Subsequently, the determination of the optimal firm and industry structure is illustrated from the economic point of view. Finally, central economic concepts with respect to production analysis as well as industrial organisation are modelled for an empirical application to the water supplying industry. It is revealed that empirically based organisation models have not been considered in the course of the ongoing discussion on water sector liberalisation so far. The 'pool-model' seems to be a promising alternative with respect to the restructuring of the water supplying industry in rural areas. -- Water Supply Industry ; Production Analysis ; Industrial Organisation ; Economic Modelling