COMPETITION LIMITS IN RAILWAY TRANSPORT

• Authors: Tomeš Zdeněk
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The aim of the paper is to assess advantages and disadvantages of the policy of the railway separation (unbundling) of infrastructure and services. The policy of vertical unbundling is an attempt to introduce competition into the provision of railway services. The vertical unbundling strategy in railways has been strongly advocated by the European Commission as a possibility to increase competition and efficiency in this sector. The strategy has been applied since the beginning of 1990’s in many European countries with varied energy, depth and timing. An evaluation of vertical unbundling strategy reveals both positive and negative aspects. On the positive side there are clear indications that introduction of reforms has improved efficiency. But it is evident that power of competition has significant limits in railways due to numerous specifics of this unique industry. If the unbundling policy has more advantages than disadvantages is subject to debate but there are strong indications that there are also other possible ways of combating inefficiencies in the railway sector.

Keywords

EN

RAILWAY; RAILWAY TRANSPORT; UNBUNDLING STRATEGY; INFRASTRUCTURE; EUROPE; EU

• Publisher: Institute of Slovak and World Economics and Institute for Forecasting, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Ekonomický časopis (Journal of Economics)
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 59
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 194 – 203

Contributors

author

Tomeš Zdeněk

• Masarykova Univerzita, Ekonomická a správní fakulta, Lipová 41a, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic