The Second Edition of Economics of Water Resources: From Regulation to Privatization updates and expands the exposition of the authors' central theses concerning: the integration of water quantity-quality issues, and the treatment of water as a multi-product commodity, with the market playing the major role in the determination of water quality-discrimination pricing; the drawbacks of public control, regulation and enforcement, and the need to expand privatization of water supply and of water and wastewater treatment facilities to ensure their appropriate, adequate, development and modernization through increased reliance on private capital; the unification and centralization of water management at river basin level in order to handle effectively the expanding pressures for water availability, for the evaluation of waterborne disease, for extensive and effective pollution abatement as well as for coping with the related issues of soil erosion, siltation in streams, channels and reservoirs, protection against stress from drought and floods, and with myriad problems relating to the environment, recreation and navigation. While expanding and updating the underlying data, the authors maintain the basic division of the book into four parts. Part I presents the conceptual framework within which are examined the interacting elements in the management of water resources and the role of market in water pricing and in quality-graded quantity of water. Part II focuses on water quality control, on the nature and impact of pollution, on water recycling and reuse, and on the prevailing policy instruments. Part III points to the deficiencies of engineering solutions in the choice of publicexpenditures needed for the construction of water systems and stresses the role of privatization and of centralization at the level of river basins. Part IV underlines the need for coordinating all supply programs, projected demand, recycling and reuse. Economics of Water Resources: From Regulation to Privatization probes the fundamental concepts concerning the regulation and privatization of water resources, of water pricing, of public policies concerning the allocation of water supplied to users, and examines all of the issues involved in a truly market-determined framework. It aims to inform and prepare all persons interested in the study and management of water problems. The book can be used in courses on water resource management and planning, economics of water resources, or as a basic reference work on water resources in general.

In this volume, which was originally published in 1979, an essay of analysis prefaces a collection of translated papers from Eastern Europe. The juxtaposition of analysis and original documents from Eastern European authorities (both revered there and disgraced) enables the reader to join in the experience of interpretation. The essay (Part I) provides an analysis of the mechanisms of Soviet-type economies. It concentrates on four issues: decision-making processes; the limits upon the choices made; practical implementation of the choices; and the objectives implied by them. This ends with an explanation of the relatively scant application of economic principles to the operation of this type of economic system. Part II is a reader consisting of appropriately chosen original texts from Eastern European sources grouped into sections on administration, resource allocation, planning and incentives. The issues are examined in relation to the special conditions which brought them to a head.

The appearance of this Second Edition has been encouraged by the favorable reception of the first. This has offered us the opportunity to update the materials and to expand the exposition ofour central theses concerning (1) the integration of water quantity-quality issues and the treatment of water as a multi-product commodity, with the market playing a major role in determining water quality-discriminant pricing; (2) the drawbacks of public controls, regulation and enforcement, and the need to expand privatization of water supply and of water and wastewater treatment facilities to ensure their appropriate development and modernization through increased reliance on private capital; (3) the unification and centralization of water management on the river basin level in order to handle effectively the expanding pressures for water availability, for the elimination of waterborne disease, for extensive and effective pollution abatement as well as coping with the related issues of soil erosion, siltation in streams, channels, and reservoirs, protection against distress from drought and floods, and with the myriad problems relating to the environment, recreation, and navigation. We have maintained the division ofthe book into four major parts and 12 chapters.

Russia's Economic Transitions examines the three major transformations that the country underwent from the early 1860s to 2000. The first transition, under Tsarism, involved the partial break-up of the feudal framework of land ownership and the move toward capitalist relations. The second, following the Communist revolution of 1917, brought to power a system of state ownership and administration - a sui generis type of war-economy state capitalism - subjecting the economy's development to central commands. The third, started in the early 1990s and still unfolding, is aiming at reshaping the inherited economic fabric on the basis of private ownership. The three transitions originated within different settings, but with a similar primary goal, namely the changing of the economy's ownership pattern in the hopes of providing a better basis for subsequent development. The treatment's originality, impartiality and historical breadth have cogent economic, social and political relevance.

Professor Spulber traces the role of the state in the West and East for more than two centuries along parallel lines--first from the creation of the Welfare State in the West, and the Party-State in the East, to reform of the Western Welfare State by means of privatization and entitlement changes, to transmutations in the East through large scale privatizations and the creation of the "nomenklatura capitalism." He establishes an original connection between dismantling state enterprises and limitation of government functions at all levels in the West, and the collapse and then restructuring of the state on new foundations in the East.

This work focuses on the economic challenges the American economy has faced during the post-World War II era, and on the new challenges represented notably by the competing economies of Japan, Germany, and of the entire European union which confront it as the 21st century approaches. The text presents a detailed critique of the thesis alleging that the American economy had experienced some kind of decline, and also argues that the economy will continue to move forward energetically and successfully if growth and change are primarily left to emerge from the impulses and incentives of the private economy. It discusses U.S. economic growth over the past four decades, focusing on the changing nature of government-business relations, the strength of U.S. technological progress and the proliferation of strategic international alliances, joint venture mergers, and aquisitions of foreign firms in which the U.S. plays the leading role.

This work focuses on the economic challenges the American economy has met during the post-World War II era and on the new challenges - represented notably by the competing economies of Japan, Germany, and the entire European Union - which confront it as the 21st century approaches. The book shows how the transformations brought about by international competition fit into the long-term processes of economic growth and change with respect to structural mutations, technological development, the role of government, and the evolution of government-business relations. Professor Spulber presents a detailed critique of the thesis alleging that the American economy has experienced some kind of decline. He demonstrates not only that such a decline has not taken place but also that the economy will continue to strengthen if growth and change are primarily left to emerge from the impulses and incentives of the private economy.

This book is concerned with Russia's economic transition from a predominantly feudal economy to a capitalist economy; from an economy based on private ownership, to one based exclusively on state ownership, and finally, from the latter back to private ownership and market-directed relations. These transitions have generated much thought not only in economics, but in history, political science and sociology. Current research in economic transition is commanding great interest; as it reviews methods and outcomes of privatization, along with a variety of problems in economic growth, industrial organization, public economics, international finance and monetary economics.

Redefining the State examines in historical perspective the changes of the role of the state with regard to public ownership and the scope of welfare in the main industrial and transitional economies. These changes have given rise to illuminating debates on the state's size, range, and function, and have involved important transformations concerning the boundaries between the public and private sector, the forms and extent of privatization, and the nature and content of public welfare. These debates and transformations are of critical importance to understanding the actual and potential scope of the state in any economy.