bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Step- and Biological Grandparents Show Differences in Investment and Emotional Closeness With Their Grandchildren?
Authors: Gray Peter B. , Brogdon Elizabeth
Published: February 2017

Human children are raised by a variety of caregivers including grandparents. A few studies have assessed potential differences in direct caregiving, financial expenditures, and emotional closeness between biological and step-grandparents. Drawing upon kin selection theory, we hypothesized that step-grandparents would provide less care and be less emotionally close to grandchildren than would biological grandparents. A sample of 341 heterosexual U.S. adults 25–35 years of age in a long-term partnership and with a biological child 5 years of age or younger were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Subjects provided sociodemographic information and answered questions about the dynamics between their own parent/stepparent and their own youngest biological child (hence, biological/step-grandparenting dynamics). Main analyses were restricted to within-subject comparisons. Results showed that biological grandmothers provided more direct childcare, financial expenditures, and had more emotionally close relationships with grandchildren than did step-grandmothers. Biological grandfathers provided less direct care and had less emotionally close relationships than step-grandfathers but did not exhibit differences in financial expenditures. Biological grandmothers provided more direct care, financial investment, and were more emotionally close to the referential grandchild than were biological grandfathers. Step-grandfathers were more emotionally close and more often played with grandchildren than step-grandmothers. These findings partially support kin selection theory. We discuss the relevance of factors such as competing demands on grandmothers’ investment in biological and step-grandchildren and grandfathering serving in part as mating effort. Sex differences in biological grandparenting also mirror those in parenting. We suggest directions for future research, including on grandfathers, particularly in patrilineal societies.
Systemic domination as ground of justice
Authors: Jugov Tamara
Published: February 2017

This paper develops a domination-based practice-dependent approach to justice, according to which it is practices of systemic domination which can be said to ground demands from justice. The domination-based approach developed overcomes the two most important objections levelled to alternative practice-dependent approaches. First, it eschews conservative implications and hence is immune to the status quo objection. Second, it is immune to the redundancy objection, which doubts whether empirical facts and practices can really play an irreducible role in grounding justice. In theorising dominating practices in terms of practices of social power, a domination-based approach makes justice dependent on factual information in three ways: First, the principle of non-domination is indeterminate and can only be spelled out by taking into view particular contexts of domination. Second, the principle of non-domination is conditional on the existence of practices of social power. Third, social power possesses a structural ontology – to know whether A has social power over B we need to turn to social rules distributing agents' higher order status of normative authority towards each other. This explains in what way practices of social power – and of domination – are both factual and normative practices and hence how such practices are non-redundant in grounding justice.
Chronic NaHS treatment decreases oxidative stress and improves endothelial function in diabetic mice
Authors: Ng Hooi H , Yildiz Gunes S , Ku Jacqueline M , Miller Alyson A , Woodman Owen L , Hart Joanne L
Published: February 2017

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is endogenously produced in vascular tissue and has anti-oxidant and vasoprotective properties. This study investigates whether chronic treatment using the fast H2S donor NaHS could elicit a vasoprotective effect in diabetes. Diabetes was induced in male C57BL6/J mice with streptozotocin (60 mg/kg daily, ip for 2 weeks) and confirmed by elevated blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin levels. Diabetic mice were then treated with NaHS (100 µmol/kg/day) for 4 weeks, and aortae collected for functional and biochemical analyses. In the diabetic group, both endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and basal nitric oxide (NO•) bioactivity were significantly reduced ( p < 0.05), and maximal vasorelaxation to the NO• donor sodium nitroprusside was impaired ( p < 0.05) in aorta compared to control mice. Vascular superoxide generation via nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase ( p < 0.05) was elevated in aorta from diabetic mice which was associated with increased expression of NOX2 ( p < 0.05). NaHS treatment of diabetic mice restored endothelial function and exogenous NO• efficacy back to control levels. NaHS treatment also reduced the diabetes-induced increase in NADPH oxidase activity, but did not affect NOX2 protein expression. These data show that chronic NaHS treatment reverses diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction by restoring NO• efficacy and reducing superoxide production in the mouse aorta.
Analysis of electrical, thermal and compressive properties of alkali-treated jute fabric reinforced composites
Authors: Sudha S , Thilagavathi G
Published: February 2017

The effect of alkali treatment on thermal, electrical and compressive behaviour of jute composite has been studied. The plain woven jute fabrics were manufactured using handloom. The manufactured fabrics were treated with alkali at the optimized treatment conditions of 5% NaOH for 4 h at 30℃ made into a composite of [0°]4 lay-up sequence by means of compression moulding technique using vinyl ester resin. The improvement in the crystallization of the alkali-treated jute fabric was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction technique. The composites were characterized for compression strength, thermal conductivity and electrical resistance properties. It is observed from the results that the alkali-treated jute composites showed increased compression strength, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of the composites. This may be due to the better adhesion of the fabric–matrix interface with the removal of lignin and hemicelluloses that impart hydrophobicity on the fabric.
Tracking error constrained robust adaptive neural prescribed performance control for flexible hypersonic flight vehicle
Authors: Wu Zhonghua , Lu Jingchao , Shi Jingping , Zhou Qing , Qu Xiaobo
Published: February 2017

A robust adaptive neural control scheme based on a back-stepping technique is developed for the longitudinal dynamics of a flexible hypersonic flight vehicle, which is able to ensure the state tracking error being confined in the prescribed bounds, in spite of the existing model uncertainties and actuator constraints. Minimal learning parameter technique–based neural networks are used to estimate the model uncertainties; thus, the amount of online updated parameters is largely lessened, and the prior information of the aerodynamic parameters is dispensable. With the utilization of an assistant compensation system, the problem of actuator constraint is overcome. By combining the prescribed performance function and sliding mode differentiator into the neural back-stepping control design procedure, a composite state tracking error constrained adaptive neural control approach is presented, and a new type of adaptive law is constructed. As compared with other adaptive neural control designs for hypersonic flight vehicle, the proposed composite control scheme exhibits not only low-computation property but also strong robustness. Finally, two comparative simulations are performed to demonstrate the robustness of this neural prescribed performance controller.
Design and recognition of artificial landmarks for reliable indoor self-localization of mobile robots
Authors: Zhong Xu , Zhou Yu , Liu Hanyu
Published: February 2017

This article presents a self-localization scheme for indoor mobile robot navigation based on reliable design and recognition of artificial visual landmarks. Each landmark is patterned with a set of concentric circular rings in black and white, which reliably encodes the landmark’s identity under environmental illumination. A mobile robot in navigation uses an onboard camera to capture landmarks in the environment. The landmarks in an image are detected and identified using a bilayer recognition algorithm: A global recognition process initially extracts candidate landmark regions across the whole image and tries to identify enough landmarks; if necessary, a local recognition process locally enhances those unidentified regions of interest influenced by illumination and incompleteness and reidentifies them. The recognized landmarks are used to estimate the position and orientation of the onboard camera in the environment, based on the geometric relationship between the image and environmental frames. The experiments carried out in a real indoor environment show high robustness of the proposed landmark design and recognition scheme to the illumination condition, which leads to reliable and accurate mobile robot localization.
The critical role of myeloperoxidase in Streptococcus pneumoniae clearance and tissue damage during mouse acute otitis media
Authors: Xiang Yun , Jin Chunfang , Wang Wei , Wang Zimeng , Huang Yifei , Fan Fangmei , Ma Yurong , Zhang Xuemei , Xu Wenchun , Yin Yibing , He Yujuan
Published: February 2017

We have recently reported that neutrophils play a pivotal role in innate defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae ( Spn) during mouse acute otitis media (AOM). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. By constructing models of pneumococcal AOM in C57BL/6 mice and using a specific inhibitor in vivo, we investigated the role of myeloperoxidase (MPO), one of the most important protein components of neutrophils. Experiment results showed a significant increase in MPO production of the recruited neutrophils in Spn-infected mice. Neutrophils killed Spn in a MPO-dependent manner. MPO facilitated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and consequently promoted Spn clearance at an early stage and exacerbated tissue damage. Moreover, MPO induced neutrophil apoptosis and necrosis, which, in turn, worsened tissue damage. In summary, our study demonstrates that neutrophil MPO plays a paradoxical role in bacterial clearance and tissue damage in pneumococcal AOM.
Attitudes and barriers towards HIV screening: A qualitative study of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmed Syed Imran , Syed Sulaiman Syed Azhar , Hassali Mohamed Azmi , Thiruchelvam Kaeshaelya , Hasan Syed Shahzad , Lee Christopher KC
Published: February 2017

Background:

Understanding patients’ perspective towards HIV screening in Malaysia is pivotal to explore challenges faced by these individuals. This would be beneficial for developing local plans to improve the health-seeking behaviours among population at risk of HIV/AIDS.

Methods:

A qualitative research methodology was adopted to explore HIV/AIDS patients’ views about disease screening. A semi-structured interview guide was used for in-depth patient interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded and were subjected to a standard content analysis framework for data analysis.

Results:

Most patients were positive about screening and the value of knowing about their status early. However, fear of social stigma, discrimination, lack of support system and lack of public understanding were identified as major concerns affecting their willingness to be screened. They were concerned about mandatory screening being implemented without improvement in support system and public education.

Conclusions:

Reluctance to seek HIV screening is an important factor contributing to transmission in developing countries. In the Malaysian context, efforts should be made to strengthen screening strategies especially in the most-at-risk populations to monitor the epidemic and target prevention strategies.

Practice implications:

In a multicultural context, HIV preventive strategies must include disease awareness, including measure to tackle barriers towards screening.
Commercialization and Deregulation of Transport Industries — Theoretical Approaches and Lessons
Authors: Button Kenneth
Published: February 2017

There had been a long history of regulation of transport for economic and social reasons and in virtually all countries a massive edifice of legal structures were developed to control its supply and use. This has changed dramatically as the perceptions of the role of transport have altered, our understanding of economic forces has evolved, and there have been technology shifts. The transport networks began to be deregulated in the late 1960s with the passing of the UK's 1968 Transport Act but the process accelerated in the 1970s when in 1978 the US's Airline Deregulation Act was enacted. We have now acquired a relatively large body of evidence of how various forms of liberalized transport network markets function. Here we examine the initial rationale for regulating transport networks, consider why there has been such a dramatic change in perspective, and explore whether subsequent changes to the institutional structure have fulfilled their objectives. In this latter context, there is discussion of some of the outstanding problems that have still to be resolved in this more commercial driven environment and especially those posed by differential approaches to the regulation of network users and network infrastructure suppliers.
The Role of the Policy Framework for the Effectiveness of Benchmarking in Regulatory Proceedings
Authors: Burns Phil , Jenkins Cloda , Riechmann Christoph , Mikkers Misja
Published: February 2017

Regulation is an information problem. In this paper we show that benchmarking can have an important role to play in extracting information and providing efficiency incentives. However, the effectiveness of this role depends both on the credibility of the regulator to undertake a comparative efficiency analysis, and the impact of the benchmarking on the value of the firm. These are both affected by the policy framework within which the regulator operates. In Britain the regulator is not obliged to undertake any benchmarking, and the impact of the benchmarking that has been undertaken has been relatively low. These conditions have the effect of diminishing incentives for both information provision by the companies and model developments by the regulator. In the Netherlands, the impact on business value is high because benchmarking sets the price differentials from which a yardstick competition model – required by law – is implemented. These twin conditions of high credibility and high impact on value both sharpen incentives for the businesses to reveal information at the time of the benchmarking and also provide a stimulus for the regulator to properly account for firm-specific effects. In Austria, where similar conditions to the Netherlands have been established, we described the regulator's attempts to improve the robustness of the cost drivers in the model.
Transaction Costs in Public-Private Partnerships: A First Look at the Evidence
Authors: Dudkin Gerti , Välilä Timo
Published: February 2017

This paper presents the results of one of the first systematic analyses of the magnitude and determinants of transaction costs in public-private partnerships (PPPs). Given limited data availability, the analysis is confined to procurement-phase costs of bidding and contract negotiation, thus excluding costs related to contract monitoring and renegotiation in the operational phase. Notably, no attempt is made to compare transaction costs in PPPs to those in traditional public procurement of investment projects, nor to compare them to cost savings achieved through PPPs. Even so, some interesting results emerge. As regards the level of transaction costs in the procurement phase, it is estimated that the total costs amount on average to well over 10 percent of the capital value of the project. Transaction costs to the public sector and the winning bidder vary between sectors, and they are significantly higher in small projects (below £25 million) and in projects that take long (over 50 months) to procure. In contrast, neither experience in setting up partnerships nor the number of bidders affect the costs to the public sector and the winning bidder.
The Danish Electricity Reform — Success or Failure?
Authors: Olsen Ole Jess , Larsen Anders
Published: February 2017

The European market directive from 1996 was only reluctantly implemented in Denmark in 1999. This is not different from a number of other member countries. However, the approach to liberalisation was more radical than in other reluctant countries. We address three tenets in standard market implementation: market power, restructuring, and regulation of the network monopoly. Even if the Danish market reform gets very good marks in the EU benchmarking, there have been major problems in all three areas. As for market power, the Danish Competition Authority has accused two large generators of abuse. Restructuring of the sector has been prevented by lengthy discussions on ownership. The most spectacular problem arose in the implementation of new incentive regulation of the distribution system operators. A combination of income caps and benchmarking was obviously mal-functioning and had to be abandoned in 2004. In the article we furthermore address the remedies recently introduced to cure the malaises.
Technology Matters: The Cases of the Liberalization of Electricity and Railways
Authors: Künneke Rolf , Finger Matthias
Published: February 2017

This article deals with the interrelation between changing technological features and evolving institutional arrangements of the liberalizing electricity and railways sectors. The article is grounded in a systematic analysis of the technical features of the electricity and railways sectors, and argues that certain critical technical functions need to be supported by suitable institutional arrangements in order to safeguard a satisfactory technical functioning of these infrastructures. The article also assumes that it is necessary to align technological and institutional regimes into a coherent framework in order to ensure sustainable functioning of the various network industries (i.e., our assumption of “coherence”). Finally, the article argues that the (institutional) regulation of these two important sectors needs to take technology explicitly into consideration, either as an enabling or restricting factor.
The Assessment of Single SMP: Lessons Learned from the First round Market Review
Authors: Hou Liyang
Published: February 2017

The concept of significant market power (SMP) is enshrined by the European regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services to the extent to which national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in most circumstances can only regulate undertakings with SMP. According to this regulatory framework, both the definition and the methods for the assessment of SMP are equivalent to those of dominance under Article 82 EC Treaty. Although theories already suggest that the assessment of SMP should be different from dominance to some extent, empirical research has not been fully explored. This paper aims to sheds some light on the empirical differences between the assessment of single SMP and single dominance based on the decisions of the European Commission under Article 7 of Framework Directive in the first round of market review. After examining these decisions, this paper first finds that when using a very high/low market share as evidence of market power the regulatory regime takes a higher threshold than the antitrust regime. Subsequently, on a closer level it looks at the appraisal of other criteria for the assessment of SMP by NRAs and furthermore categorizes them into three groups due to their different values: direct criteria, collaborating criteria and not very important criteria.
Unlicensed Innovation: The Case of Wi-Fi
Authors: Lemstra Wolter , Hayes Vic
Published: February 2017

In this paper we describe the genesis and development of Wi-Fi as a combined result of (1) a change in the US communications radio spectrum policy in the 1980s, (2) the industry leadership provided by NCR, its corporate successors and collaborators, to create a global standard and to deliver compatible products under the Wi-Fi label, and (3) the influence of the users that moved the application of Wireless-LANs from the enterprise to the home, from indoor to outdoor use, from a communications product to a communications service, and from operators to end-users as the provider of that service. In concluding we assess the implications of this case for the formation of government policy and firm strategy. The case exploration and analysis is based on contributions by experts from the field, having been involved ‘first hand’ in the innovation journey of Wi-Fi.
Defensive Competitive Strategies in Two-Sided Markets: The Example of the Mail Industry
Authors: Dietl Helmut M. , Grütter Andreas , Lutzenberger Martin
Published: February 2017

This paper outlines and analyzes different competitive strategies for an established platform provider in a two-sided market to defend against various forms of attack. Taking into account the characteristics of two-sided markets, we consider strategies based on product innovation and network effects, process innovation and pricing, multiple platforms, and switching costs. Network effects introduce dynamics that can quickly displace an incumbent platform. However, a platform provider can also use network effects to its advantage, entrenching itself firmly in the market by using appropriate strategies. These strategies are developed theoretically and illustrated by example of the mail industry.
Competition Authorities and Regulators in Belgium: Hierarchy versus Cooperation
Authors: Naert Frank
Published: February 2017

This paper provides an analysis of the possible relationships between the competition authority and sectoral regulators. The relevant literature is first discussed and then applied to the Belgian situation. As in so many other countries, Belgium is going through a difficult search process to find the appropriate relationship. Nevertheless, we might be able to take a relatively unique direction in the future. It is not unimaginable that a constellation is developing which will put the competition authority on a higher hierarchical level than the sector regulators, by installing it as the body of appeal for the decisions of the sector regulators.
Long-Term Contracts and Competition on European Gas Markets – Has the Commission Struck the Right Balance?
Authors: Spanjer Aldo
Published: February 2017

This article examines whether the balance currently struck by the European Commission between long-term contracting and the introduction of competition will ensure a sustainable level of competition on European gas markets, i.e. competition that not impedes investments. It examines whether this balance -which can be derived from a recently closed antitrust case against Distrigas – takes proper account of the benefits of long-term contracting. The current balance recognizes the possibility of efficiencies related to long-term contracts. This article uses the transaction cost economics framework to assess this balance, because this science of contract explicitly focuses on contracts and their ex-post properties. It turns out that the Commission's balance is inadequate because the advantages of long-term contracting in terms of mitigating opportunistic regulatory behaviour are not acknowledged. One likely consequence is that the Commission will intervene, and force adaptations to long-term contracts, more often than efficient.
Railway Mergers and Railway Alliances: Competition Issues and Lessons for other Network Industries
Authors: Pittman Russell
Published: February 2017

Freight railway enterprises in both Europe and North America are in the process of significant restructuring, with EC policy changes dictating new ownership, organization, and cooperation arrangements in Europe and a series of major mergers having already led to highly concentrated regional markets in the U.S. and Canada. Mergers, alliances, and organizational changes may raise important and complex issues regarding the level of competition facing goods shippers, with differing implications depending on the differing institutional contexts. This paper examines the competitive consequences of these developments in Europe and North America and suggests some lessons for other network industries.
Urban Planning and Railway Corridors: Resolving Regulatory Dysfunction in Australia
Authors: Ryan Rachel , Charles Michael B. , von der Heidt Tania , Collier Christopher
Published: February 2017

In Australia, land adjacent to rail corridors has traditionally been considered blighted owing to the detrimental environmental impacts that rail operations have on their surroundings. However, this adjacent land is now increasingly being used for residential development, which means that there is an increasing number of people living next to rail corridors negatively impacted by rail operations, particularly with respect to noise and vibration. This also means that there is increasing political and regulatory pressure on rail operators and track owners to ameliorate noise impacts. There are a number of issues at play when considering the conflicting relationship between transport corridors and development adjacent to these corridors. These are 1) the willingness of governments to employ adequate planning instruments and Development Application (DA) processes that consider the potentially conflicting interactions between different land uses, 2) the level of sophistication pertaining to noise and vibration reduction technology utilised by rail industry organisations, and 3) the willingness of rail organisations responsible for rail operations and infrastructure to address these conflicts through technological upgrades and negotiate with policymakers. A qualitative research study was undertaken to determine the level of conflict between the regulation of environmental emissions (primarily noise, dust and visible diesel emissions), state-based planning regulations, and DA approvals administered at a local government level.1 As a result, regulatory inefficiency was identified in the context of urban development encroaching on rail corridors and facilities. These inefficiencies are set against a historical background resulting from the Australian federalist system of government, which has led to a disjuncture between the three tiers of government in the administration of environment-specific regulation, particularly where state governments have a high degree of control.
Does Cognitive Radio Need Policy Innovation?
Authors: Anker Peter
Published: February 2017

This contribution addresses the impact of cognitive radio on the regime of radio spectrum governance. To avoid harmful interference the current paradigm of spectrum governance uses the principle of separation. Thereby each application and user or user group is being assigned a specific part of the spectrum for a specific location. Cognitive radio defies this principle because cognitive radios monitor the spectrum and select an unused part for their transmission. This capability provides a new solution in addressing the issue of spectrum scarcity. However, its dynamic operating principle to access spectrum runs counter to the prevailing static spectrum management method.

The focus of this contribution is on the implications of dynamic spectrum access for national and international spectrum policy in the light of the current practice of assignments based on (exclusive) usage rights and prescribed applications.
Regulatory Governance Costs in Network Industries: Observations in Postal Regulation
Authors: Maegli Martin , Jaag Christian , Finger Matthias
Published: February 2017

The various actors in the regulated industries relate to each other within a broader institutional framework, i.e., by way of formal and informal rules. An important role in the implementation of liberalization processes is given to regulation and thus to regulatory institutions. The rationale for regulation is its positive effect on society by correcting market failures. But regulatory intervention also causes costs which we call “costs of regulatory governance”. These costs result from negative consequences caused by regulatory requirements and from the implementation of regulatory instruments. These costs will depend upon the formal and informal rules among the involved actors, upon the allocation of property rights among these actors, as well as upon the various principal-agent or more generally contractual relationships among these actors. We distinguish between direct and indirect costs of regulation: Direct costs occur in relation with the institutional design of the regulatory framework and the behaviour of actors. Indirect costs result from distorted incentives and finally turn out in an inefficient supply of goods and services. Using the example of the Swiss postal market we offer a first outline of a possible application of the framework. In this article we neither intend to quantify regulatory costs nor do we question regulation per se. We rather present a qualitative framework which helps to structure a discussion about regulatory challenges in network industries.
“DC for AC”… No Hard-Rock Band, but a New and Unregulated Business Model for Electricity Retail Markets
Authors: Bache Volker , Capito Ralf , Hasenkamp Christopher , Koenig Christian
Published: February 2017

Even though the electricity retail markets have been liberalised for several years now, there is still a distinct lack of competition. The recent developments in the field of Smart Metering and a Smart Grid infrastructure, however, offer new opportunities to remedy this shortcoming. Therefore, in the following essay we would like to introduce and discuss a sample business model – which could be realised in the near future – utilising these new technologies: Delivery-by-Call (DC).

The goal of DC is to make it possible to purchase electricity in an automated, digitally driven process for varying time frames from different suppliers. Basically, DC offers an alternative way of distribution for electricity suppliers, i.e. it enables them to sell their product to consumers using DC-services. The consumer benefit herein lies in the possibility to switch between competing suppliers present on the DC-platform within minutes, which enables them to profit from different tariffs of varying suppliers. Thus, DC could prove to be a catalyst for the Smart Grid development by providing a monetary incentive for households to insist on the installation of a Smart Meter.
Constrained Divestiture and Ownership Unbundling
Authors: Rammerstorfer Margarethe
Published: February 2017

In recent years, the European Union has discussed several possibilities concerning the unbundling of vertically integrated companies. Most of the scientific literature on this topic deals with unbundling from the perspective of social welfare or regulatory economics, but does not analyze the shareholder's perspective. This article deals with this component by means of a theoretical model, which is empirically tested afterwards. It shows that ownership unbundling leaves the investors better off if the company to be divested is a large transmission or distribution operator (revenues above Euro 100,000,000) whilst the opposite is true if the business to be divested is small.
Smart Grids Put into Practice: Technological and Regulatory Aspects
Authors: Veldman Else , Geldtmeijer Danny A.M. , Knigge Joris D. , Han Slootweg J.G.
Published: February 2017

The transition towards a more sustainable energy supply system causes changes in the supply and demand of energy and requires more flexible and efficient operation of the electricity distribution grids. It calls for smart grids with embedded intelligent control to incorporate electricity storage and controllable loads. This will ensure cost-effective development of an efficient and reliable electricity system that allows the large-scale integration of distributed generation. A holistic approach is needed to realise these smart grids. The different issues which need to be addressed to make smart grids a successful reality are covered in this article. First, the most important issues from a technological viewpoint are identified. However, adapting the grids to future developments goes far beyond simply developing and implementing technologies. Changes in technological systems affect the institutional design applied in those systems. An integral view of technical, institutional, economic and social aspects is needed to realise steps towards putting smart grids into practice. This article highlights the needed changes towards smart grids from the technological perspective of a Dutch distribution system operator (DSO) and elaborates on the implications of these changes for the regulation for this sector.
Exploring Trends and Variations in Agency Scope
Authors: Jordana Jacint , Levi-Faur David
Published: February 2017

What are the trends in the design of regulatory agencies' scope of responsibilities? To shed some light on this issue, we explore temporal, sectoral, national and regional variations in the scope of agencies across 16 different policy domains and 48 countries. This exercise represents a first step towards a theoretically driven empirical explanation of the determinants of agency scope. Focusing on the distinction between single- and multi-sector agencies, we demonstrate how agency scope is contingent on national, sectoral and regional characteristics, and provide a preliminary analysis of the characteristics of these variations. Our analysis of the data demonstrates, first, that the scope of agencies has been expanding fast since the late 1990s, often as a result of the extension of regulatory agencification to new sectors, and second, that multi-sectoral agencies are more common in Europe than in Latin America, in economic regulation than in social regulation, and in smaller countries than in bigger ones.
Governing Infrastructure Networks for a Low Carbon Economy: Co-Evolution of Technologies and Institutions in UK Electricity Distribution Networks
Authors: Bolton Ronan , Foxon Timothy J.
Published: February 2017

This paper analyses efforts to promote innovation in the UK energy networks sector. Using a case study approach, we chart the co-evolution between technologies and institutions in electricity distribution networks since the introduction of privatization and market liberalization over twenty years ago. It is observed that as a result of macro level institutional dynamics, innovation has become an increasingly important policy and regulatory goal. However, efforts to promote radical and architectural innovation, such as the transition to a smart grid, face significant barriers at the firm and sector levels. It is argued that changes are required to the formal and informal institutions which govern the sector in order to promote a more coherent relationship between technological and institutional change, leading to a productive innovation system which allows firms to collaborate across the electricity value chain and develop inter-firm/cross sector innovation partnerships.
Commitment and Regulatory Independence in Practice in Latin American and Caribbean Countries
Authors: Trillas Francesc , Montoya Miguel A.
Published: February 2017

We present an analysis of the evolution of regulatory independence in practice for 23 Latin American and Caribbean countries in the telecommunications industry. Based on this analysis, we construct indices of regulatory independence, which improve upon the measures that have been used so far in the empirical regulation literature. Our measures are consistent with the fact that legal independence does not solve, but it relocates, the commitment problem of utility regulation. We show that legal indices may give a partially distorted picture of the commitment ability of institutions. In addition, treating independence as exogenous may underestimate its impact. The combination of de facto and de jure independence has a positive (probably modest nonetheless) impact on network penetration in telecommunications markets.
Pricing Strategies in Regulated Markets
Authors: Ambrosini Xavier , Bréville Sébastien , Cornée Joel , Klargaard Olaf
Published: February 2017

In a context of downward trends in mail volumes, recent postal reforms have allowed postal operators to build tariffs with a more balanced approach between cost based and demand based pricing. In the United States, some increased pricing flexibility was granted to the USPS in 2006 with the adoption of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. In Europe, the adoption of the 2008 postal directive which liberalizes the postal sector confirmed the application of the subsidiarity principle, according to which European Union member states are free to determine the scope of regulated services, and consequently the degree of pricing flexibility for postal operators. In line with these regulatory changes, postal operators practice has been characterized by more innovations, both in the United States and in Europe. Analyzing recent product launch and commercial policies, we identify a link between demand based pricing and legislations which set up liberalization and a more flexible approach of cost orientation principles. Through increased market segmentation, postal operators have developed differentiated pricing in relation to specific products and specific customers. The paper provides insights from postal operators' strategies and interactions with regulatory authorities concerning price, in a context of growing pressure from various stakeholders on postal operators' marketing strategies.
How to Design a New Gas Bid Price Ladder?
Authors: de Bruijne Mark , Steenhuisen Bauke , Correljé Aad , ten Heuvelhof Ernst , de Vries Laurens
Published: February 2017

In liberalization policies for network industries market design is primarily considered and approached as a technical and economic design problem. Market design should support an efficient, fair, robust and reliable provision of commodities. Pursuing these goals, technical and economic parameters of market design are commonly analyzed and combined, drawing on more or less explicit theoretical notions, resulting in specific and elaborate market design rules.

A second and much less-stressed facet of market design is that these processes are important arenas in which stakeholders seek to influence the future contours of the market. A wide variety of opinions among stakeholders and experts exists with regard to these end-goals, the consequences of design choices and outcomes in terms of performance. Consequently, market designs are fiercely contested, highly politicized and arduous, lengthy processes.

This article discusses research that was conducted to facilitate the design of a specific component of the new Dutch gas market balancing regime: the bid price ladder design to purchase and sell deficit and excess volumes of gas. The article concludes that market design processes can be considered complex wicked problems instead of economic and/or technical optimization problems. Finally, the article discusses the implications of this conclusion for the market design process.
Practical Approaches to USO Costing and Financing
Authors: Jaag Christian , Trinkner Urs , Lisle John , Waghe Navin , van der Merwe Erik
Published: February 2017

Traditionally, universal services in network industries have relied on granting the universal service provider a reserved area. Current liberalization policies promoting competitive entry may put the traditional universal service and its financing at risk. Hence, there is an increased interest in estimating the cost of universal service provision.

In the postal sector, the Third EC Directive proposes a calculation approach to determine the net cost of a universal service obligation and to compensate the universal service provider (USP). In this paper, we discuss various implementations of the costing and financing of USO based on profitability cost and argue that a holistic approach is appropriate to meet the core requirements of consistency and robustness.
Regulation and Regulatory Risk in the Face of Large Transmission Investment
Authors: Brunekreeft Gert , Meyer Roland
Published: February 2017

Most transmission systems in Europe are currently in need of large network expansions, in particular to cope with increasing shares of load remote renewable energy sources. Given that the scope for further cost reductions is largely exhausted, we observe a paradigm shift into the direction of implementing more cost-pass-through elements into price-based regulation to strengthen the necessary investment incentives. Regulatory emphasis is shifting from cost-reductions to promoting investment. Obstacles to investments arise in particular from regulatory risk and efficiency risk. Addressing these topics, we recommend a move towards more cost-based approaches, with ex ante investment approval and less reliance on ex post benchmarking.
Cognitive Radio: Enabling Technology in Need of Coordination
Authors: Lemstra Ir. Wolter , Anker Ir. Peter , Hayes Ing. Vic
Published: February 2017

As enabling technology, Cognitive Radio (CR) holds an interesting promise for improved utilization of the radio frequency spectrum by using knowledge of the local radio environment and understanding the user's communications needs. These CR capabilities are highly valuable for the introduction of new radio communication services, as all (usable) radio spectrum has been allocated and assigned, while in practice the spectrum appears to be under-utilized, considering time and place. However, the CR innovation journey is still in an early stage of unfolding. There is a large degree of uncertainty that will have to be mitigated before successful, large-scale deployment of the technology may be expected and the potential economic value can be realized. This contribution is aimed at identifying the instances of coordination that have led to successful deployment of new radio technologies in the past in an attempt to support the successful deployment of CR-based products and services in the near future.
Competition and Technology Adoption in Two-Sided Network Markets
Authors: Majumdar Sumit K.
Published: February 2017

Investment in the face of entry has been a strategy used by incumbents firms. Nevertheless, the concept applies to traditional sectors of industry and not for contemporary network contexts. This article reports a study that has examined the strategic behavior of the incumbent local exchange carriers in the United States telecommunications with respect to technology investments in the face of competitive entry over a fourteen year period, 1988 to 2001. The general finding is that in the face of competitive entry the incumbents underinvested in broadband technology, an approach consistent with desires to constrain entry or reflecting an inability or unwillingness to supply unbundled network services at low rates. The possibilities of inter-modal cable competition also led to underinvestment of broadband, which could be made potentially obsolete by cable companies, but positive investments in digital technologies. Controlling for firm-specific behavior, in the post-1996 period, after the Telecommunications Act was passed, it was noted that the Bell operating companies displayed positive investment patterns. The evidence displays interesting dynamics at work in the investment behavior of telecommunications firms as the market has become competitive.
The Price Squeeze Test as a ‘Wildcard’ at the Hands of Competition Authorities: The Example of the Greek Broadband Internet Services Market
Authors: Brisimi Vasiliki , Yannelis Demetrius
Published: February 2017

The article examines a decision adopted by the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) under its competition law competence on a margin squeeze allegedly applied by the Greek incumbent in the markets for broadband internet access and services. Three main criticisms are addressed to the decision regarding market definition, the imputation test used (and particularly the test for assessing profitability over time), and the proof of likely anticompetitive effects in the relevant market. In light of those criticisms, it is argued that the margin squeeze test for establishing an abuse of dominance is based upon a number of ad hoc assumptions, which might turn it into a discretionary, outcome-oriented device at the hands of the Competition Authorities.
The Efficiency of Network Nodes: The Regulation of Airports
Authors: Button Kenneth
Published: February 2017

This paper looks at the efficiency of airports and the ways in which the shifting regulatory structure of airports is gradually impacting on this efficiency. It considers the context in which airports, the nodes in the air transportation system, function in terms of both market and institutional forces, and argues that considerations of efficiency need to be viewed in a normative as well as a positive context. The role of institutions, embracing both private sector corporate entities and public government and governance are considered. What emerges is that there is no single model that demonstrably maximizes efficiency, at least not in the narrow economic sense, but rather that there are a number of experiments that are taking place within a variety of institutional contexts.
Aligning Technological and Institutional Change: Maritime Transport in the West Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Asquer Alberto
Published: February 2017

Within the area of study of infrastructure, various works have addressed the issue of the development of technological and institutional systems of network industries. In a dynamic perspective, issues arise about how technology and institutions co-evolve, what stimulates improvement of infrastructure performance, and how formal institutions should be designed in order to facilitate technological and institutional co-evolution. Building on the coherence framework for performance in network industries, this study aims to contribute to the development of an improved theory of technological and institutional change in network industries. The theoretical developments are illustrated through the case of technological and institutional changes of the maritime transport industry in the West Mediterranean Sea. The results suggest that more attention should be placed on the variety of private and public dimensions of performance of the network industry and by the mutual interaction between status quo conditions in the technological and institutional systems.
Low Cost Carriers and the Evolution of the Domestic U.S. Airline Industry
Authors: Hüschelrath Kai , Müller Kathrin
Published: February 2017

The article studies the evolution of the domestic U.S. airline industry from 1995 to 2009 using T-100 traffic data and DB1B fare data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Unlike previous studies, a consistent split of the analysis in network carriers and low cost carriers is introduced. Based on a differentiation in market size and major players, concentration, fares, service, costs and profits, we find that the competitive interaction between network carriers and low cost carriers increased substantially throughout the last decade and must be considered as the main driver of competition in the domestic U.S. airline industry.
Viewpoint: The Closing of the Liberalization Era in European Telecommunication
Authors: Melody William H.
Published: February 2017

Professor Melody provided in his keynote address on the 4th annual conference on Competition and Regulation in Network Industries on 25 November 2011, Brussels**, a very interesting viewpoint on the ongoing restructuring process in the electronic communication sector.