In 1885, the largest churches in Scotland were engaged in a dispute about state funding. We use data generated in the course of that dispute to examine the standard economics of religion hypothesis that higher levels of competition in 1032 local markets for religious services, proxied by the...

This paper analyses the problem of water affordability in Great Britain. The use and meaning of the term 'affordability' are discussed in relation to the domestic or household customers of the British water industry. Using microeconomic data from the Family Resources Survey, affordability is...

This paper examines the introduction of competition into the English and Welsh water and sewerage industry following privatisation of the 10 regional water authorities in 1989. It outlines the development of comparative, capital and product market competition, arguing that the greatest...

This report analyses the principles of charging for water and waste water services in Great Britain, with particular reference to Scotland. The objectives of the report are: (a) to discuss the objectives of charging household and business customers for water and waste water services,...

The Scottish Water and sewerage market for non-household customers was opened to retail competition on 1st April 2008. This development, unique in the history of the British water and sewerage industry, was the culmination of a decade-long process of industrial and regulatory restructuring in a...