This paper analyzes the role of storage for economies facing the risk of a gas supply disruption. We characterize the optimal/competitive transitory dynamics (accumulation, drainage and target stock). We partially relax the irreversibility hypothesis, by extending the model in two directions:...

One of the more remarkable properties of commodity markets is the capability of their nominal prices to be negative numbers. This flexibility to violate the zero bound can appear in outright flat prices, spreads, and net unit costs. The principal driver is typically overwhelming supply relative...

The theoretical and empirical literature on water supply and sewerage liberalization is reviewed in this paper in order to discuss the potential for market creation and private sector involvement in this sector. The analysis is framed in the quot;policy roadmapquot; developed by regulatory...

This article analyzes the pros and cons of ownership separation of the gas transportation network. This analysis is made with a specific test that confronts two pairs of different theoretical approaches on vertical integration. The result of this test shows that no uncontroversial solution can...

Successful network utility privatisation requires incentive-based regulation that allows investment to be adequately rewarded from unsubsidised revenues while maintaining quality, and restructuring that permits effective competition for the network services. The potential for success and the...

The gender pension gap, the difference in pension entitlements between men and women, is 32 percent for 60-yearolds according to data from the German Pension Insurance (Deutsche Rentenversicherung). In addition, there is a considerable motherhood pension gap: Statutory pension entitlements for...

We develop a dynamic model of strategic investment in a transnational pipeline system. In the absence of international contract enforcement, countries may distort investment in order to increase their bargaining power, resulting in overinvestment in expensive and underinvestment in cheap...