POLITICAL DETERMINANTS OF RATES IN ELECTRIC UTILITIES |
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Authors: | David R. Kamerschen James B. Kau Chris W. Paul II |
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Affiliation: | DAVID R. KAMERSCHEN is Distinguished Professor and holder of the Chair of Public Utilities Economics at the University of Georgia. He has authored six books and 110 published articles on topics in industrial organization, antitrust economics, and regulatory economics.;JAMES B. KAU is Professor of Real Estate and Legal Studies at the University of Georgia. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and has published many articles on real estate economics in professional journals.;CHRIS W. PAUL II is an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Georgia. His primary research interests are in the area of industrial organization. |
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Abstract: | The authors undertake an empirical examination of the hypothesized relationship between political variables and regulatory commission behavior (i.e., utility rate levels). Focusing on five political variables, they find evidence to support the argument that political factors do effect electric utility rates. They find commissioner terms of office and number of commissioners to be significantly, related to rate levels and offer explanations for contrary findings. |
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