Competition in Water and Sanitation : The Role of Small-Scale Entrepreneurs
In water and sanitation there has always been a belief that the sector has a high degree of natural monopoly. But competition is widespread at the low-income end of the retail level in developing countries. There are no inherent monopoly characteri...
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| Format: | Viewpoint |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2012
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/1998/12/441570/competition-water-sanitation-role-small-scale-entrepreneurs http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11510 |
| Summary: | In water and sanitation there has always
been a belief that the sector has a high degree of natural
monopoly. But competition is widespread at the low-income
end of the retail level in developing countries. There are
no inherent monopoly characteristics in, for example,
reselling water by bucket. This Note explores the diversity
of small scale entrepreneurs and their role in meeting
unserved niches of the water and sanitation market. Indeed,
small enterprises often account for a larger share of the
market than incumbent utilities and they are well placed to
complement and even compete with trunk concessions and
public companies in tailoring service to the poor. So in
designing concessions or any long term rules for the sector,
governments should take account of existing or potential
small providers. |
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