This policy study on universal access to electric power (universal service) in China is based on research conducted by the China Electricity Regulatory Commission in 2006. China's policy on universal service has three facets: First, availability, that is, power service shall be available to all...

"The monopoly-supported universal service obligation (USO) is usually defended on the grounds that the monopoly allows for cross-subsidy in letter services that in turn allows universal access to a service of great importance to all. The author argues that letter delivery (as opposed to other...

"Estache, Laffont, and Zhang develop a model to analyze the effects of asymmetric information on optimal universal service policy in the public utilities of developing countries. Optimal universal service policy is implemented using two regulatory instruments pricing and network investment....

"Dissatisfied with centralized approaches to delivering local public services, a large number of countries are decentralizing responsibility for these services to lower-level, locally elected governments. The results have been mixed. The paper provides a framework for evaluating the benefits and...

Mozambique is poised to meet the MDG goal of 100 percent primary education enrollment. The achievement will have limited impact if the quality of the education that pupil has access to is lacking. Education quality will critically determine whether the promise of the newfound mineral wealth is...