In this article, we model regulation as a repeated game between a utility facing a random sequence of demands and a regulator tempted to underreward past investment. Rate-of-return regulation designed with a constitutional commitment to an adequate rate of return on capital prudently invested is...

Countries that depend on a single primary export for their foreign earnings are likely to experience sharp fluctuations in export earnings and their underlying wealth, because of the instability of all primary commodity markets. As part of structural adjustment, several countries have...

The standard solution of the open-loop optimal import tariff is normally time inconsistent. This paper shows why and derives the dynamically consistent Markov perfect tariff. The two tariffs are compared; they differ except for a special class of import demands. The time paths of tariffs and the...

There is no academic consensus on which electricity market design provides the least distorting investment incentives. Theory suggests that "energy-only markets" can allow capacity cost recovery by generators. However, separate payments for capacity or reserve obligations do not need to rely on...

Network utilities, such as electricity, telephones, and gas, are public utilities that require a fixed network to deliver their services. Because consumers have no choice of network, they risk exploitation by network owners. Once invested, however, a network's capital is sunk, and the bargaining...