Note sur le monopole naturel et le monopole pratique chez J. S. Mill

J.S. Mill is generally considered to be the theorist who gave birth to the concept of natural monopoly in its modern sense. Yet, no author has specified that Mill distinguishes two types of monopoly, the “natural monopoly” and the “practical monopoly”. I show that Mill's notion of “practical monopoly” appears to describe the contemporary meaning of natural monopoly. However both notions have a common thread: they signify the benefits of occupying a privileged or strategic position.