Bør offentlig finansierte posttjenester reduseres?
Oslo, 18.06.2012
Henrik Lindhjem og Simen Pedersen i Vista Analyse har publisert i Review of Network Economics. Arbeidet bygger på en utredning forfatterne gjennomførte for Post- og teletilsynet i 2010-2011, og omhandler en nytte-kostnadsanalyse av dimensjoneringen av leveringspliktige posttjenester i Norge. Les publikasjonen her
We conduct, to our knowledge, the first cost-benefit analysis of the universal service obligation (USO) in the postal sector. Three alternatives are analysed that reduce delivery frequency and/or delivery speed, with particular emphasis on quantifying the potential loss of consumer benefits. Social cost savings are analysed for the service provider, for the environment and for the government through lower levels of distortionary taxes. Although there are challenges involved in measuring the net welfare change, especially loss in consumer benefits, our results suggest that only the largest reduction in the USO may be justified on social efficiency grounds.