International comparisons of common carrier rates and efficiency: The quest for objectivity

Abstract

There have been few reliable comparisons of different countries' telephone rates, and fewer of the efficiency of their national common carriers. Yet such comparisons are needed if governments and others are to have objective yardsticks by which to judge the carriers' performance. The author reviews several of the more accurate comparative techniques now used in Europe, where the lack of effective control over public sector monopolies is becoming a major political issue in certain countries.