Recent Trends in Social Economy Research

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2012), 83(3), 251-433

The Future of Public Enterprises: Contributions to a new Discourse

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2011), 82(4), 361-373

Gradual Network Expansion and Universal Service Obligations

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2011), 82(2), 97-113

Universal service obligations are usually not competitively neutral as they modify the way firms compete in the market. In this paper, we consider a continuum of local markets in a dynamic setting with a ... [more ▼]

Universal service obligations are usually not competitively neutral as they modify the way firms compete in the market. In this paper, we consider a continuum of local markets in a dynamic setting with a stochastically growing demand. The incumbent must serve all markets (ubiquity) possibly at a uniform price and an entrant decides on its market coverage before firms compete in prices. Connecting a market involves a sunk cost. We show that the imposition of a uniform price constraint modifies the timing of entry: for low connection cost markets, entry occurs earlier while for high connection cost markets, entry occurs later. [less ▲]

Current themes in social economy research

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2009), 80(2), 163-344

From the Annales de la régie directe to Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics: 100 years of Transformations in an International Economic Journal

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2008), 79(3/4), 417-460

The Annals are 100 Years Old

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2008), 79(3-4), 369-727

Measuring Quantity-Quality Trade-Offs in Regulation: the Brazilian Freight Railways Case

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2007), 78(1), 1-20

The quantity vs. quality trade-offs in network industries are well known from the theoretical literature and have been the subject of many empirical assessments, although mostly for the telecoms and ... [more ▼]

The quantity vs. quality trade-offs in network industries are well known from the theoretical literature and have been the subject of many empirical assessments, although mostly for the telecoms and energy sectors. The purpose of this paper is to expand the evidence for the railway sector by documenting the importance of this trade-off in the context of the Brazilian freight railway industry reform, the first example of a railway sector in which tariff revisions are subject to joint output and quality performance indicators. The analysis is based on the calculation of the Malmquist productivity index proposed by Fare et al. (1995). The decomposable nature of this total factor productivity (TFP) index reveals the prevalence of quantity-quality trade-offs up to the end of the reform period, but a positive correlation between them during the period just afterwards. This type of information would certainly be useful for regulation purposes, particularly as an alternative way of taking into account quality without introducing complex, and very often ineffective, penalty schemes. [less ▲]

Sulphur Emissions and Productivity Growth in Industrialised Countries

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2005), 76(2), 275-300

In this paper, we examine the relationship between economic and environmental performance. More specifically, we analyse the impact of SO2 reduction in the eighties (1980-1992) on productivity growth ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we examine the relationship between economic and environmental performance. More specifically, we analyse the impact of SO2 reduction in the eighties (1980-1992) on productivity growth, technical efficiency and technological progress for a set of 12 OECD countries. Our timeframe roughly corresponds to the adoption and implementation of the First Sulphur Protocol signed in 1985. First, we estimate an output based Malmquist productivity index using distance functions derived from successive DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) frontiers. This index is decomposed in two components namely technical and efficiency change. Second, we regress the change in productivity and its two components on a set of explanatory variables including annual variations in SO2 emissions. The results indicate that reductions in SO2 do not seem to have had a significant impact on productivity growth. The decomposition into efficiency and technology changes suggests that two countervailing effects may explain this result. On one hand, SO2 cutbacks adversely affect efficiency but on the other hand, they stimulate technical change. [less ▲]

L’évaluation de la performance économique des entreprises publiques africaines par la méthode des comptes de surplus

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (2001), 72

This paper focuses on the assessment of the economic performance of seven African railway enterprises using a Total Factor Productivity index decomposition. This method shows the role of these public ... [more ▼]

This paper focuses on the assessment of the economic performance of seven African railway enterprises using a Total Factor Productivity index decomposition. This method shows the role of these public enterprises in the production and distribution of added value. The analysis allows to identify the, positive or negative, contribution of each production factor to productivity growth. At the same time, it shows how the firm's partners do, or do not benefit from the added value created by these companies. [less ▲]

Nonprofit Organisations and Social Economy: Two Ways of Understanding the Third Sector

in Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics = Annales de l'Economie Publique, Sociale et Coopérative (1999), 70:3

The term third sector refers to a set of organizations which are neither capitalist, nor governmental. First of all, this paper aims to extent B. Gui's unitary approach to the third-sector (1991) by ... [more ▼]

The term third sector refers to a set of organizations which are neither capitalist, nor governmental. First of all, this paper aims to extent B. Gui's unitary approach to the third-sector (1991) by focusing on the distinction between third sector and state-owned bodies. Next I propose to translate the non capitalist and the non governmental conditions into operational criteria. I show that these criteria vary according to the nature of the organizations (general interest versus mutual interest). This statement allows me to justifiy the emergence of two different ways of understanding the third-sector in anglo-saxon and french-speaking traditions. [less ▲]