A Comparative Study of Telecom Reforms in East Asia and Latin America

Abstract

Based on a policy analysis framework and on the recent experiences of developing and developed countries in Latin America and East Asia, the study attempts to explore the factors that led to the telecommunications reform and compare them by applying a typology of reform objectives. This article argues that the standard reform modalities, i.e., privatization, liberalization, or a combination of both, tell very little without considering the political economic environment. In contrast, this study sets out to explore the factors that led to telecommunications reform by approaching the policy-making process from the standpoint of Systems Theory, in order to identify its objectives on a case-by-case basis. In light of the typology, the analysis suggests the occurrence of a distinctive reform path in each of the selected regions, which may explain the different combinations of privatization and liberalization, implemented in each case.