The regulator of a natural monopoly that sets a two-part tariff and whose marginal cost is stochastic will generally want the price to vary less than marginal cost when the lump-sum charge in the tariff is fixed. A trade-off exists between efficient pricing and an optimal allocation of risk. Pricing at marginal cost is only optimal when the consumer’s marginal utility is independent of the pric...

In this paper we propose a layered framework for charging QoS-enhanced IP services with policy based configuration of its layers. As an example architecture we present our implementation Value Added IP Charging and Accounting Service (VIPCAS). We further concentrate on VIPCAS elements for policies and data exchange. As flexible data structure for exchange of accounting information, we propose t...

The traditional model of trade protection against a foreign monopolist suggests that a home country should often impose a tariff on the foreign firm, even though the this introduces an additional distortion. In this paper, I generalize the traditional model to include a basic network externality, e.g., the foreign firm also generates third party advertisement revenue from its product, and I det...

The literature on British economic history presumes that Britain was a free trader after the repeal of the Corn Laws and that her tariff levels were thus below those which were optimal for maximizing utility. Presumably, if the optimal British tariff had been positive and greater than the levels established by mid-century, a reduction to zero of all tariffs that remained would have lowered Brit...

Hip fracture is one of the most serious consequences of falls in the elderly, with a mortality of 10% at one month and 30% at one year. Elderly patients with hip fractures have complex medical, surgical, and rehabilitation needs, and a well-coordinated multidisciplinary team approach is essential for the best outcome. The model of best practice for hip fracture care is set out in the Orthopaedi...

The deregulation of power markets gave origin to a new activity: the retail business. Although it should, together with generation, be opened to competition, its implementation has been usually postponed to the last stages of the liberalization process. The diversity of situations that can be found in the international experience illustrates the lack of consensus about the appropriate design of...

In this paper, we use a detailed plant-level dataset to study the effect of two reforms aimed at increasing product market competition in India – liberalization of foreign direct investment (FDI) and reduction in tariff rates. First, we examine the effect of the liberalization policies on mean plant-level productivity in the liberalized industries. We find a 23% increase in productivity level f...

We study the effects of domestic conflict and external shocks on Spanish trade policy in interwar period. Our account mobilizes a new granular dataset exports imports, good-country level information tariffs, agreements, quotas. Into Depression, mainstay was tariff. The establishment Second Republic 1931 turning point policymaking. regime initiated bilateral negotiations. Republic’s dilemma to f...

A Distributed Generation Tariff (DGT) program to replace Ontario’s existing Feed-in Tariff (FIT) would have several benefits. For example, a DGT would play a useful role in facilitating the development of a wide range of innovative, small-scale electricity generating projects to help meet the province’s growing electricity demand. As such, it would have a positive environmental impact, reducing...