title: Similar problems, different solutions: comparing refuse collection in the Netherlands and Spain.
abstract: Because of differences in institutional arrangements, public service markets, and national traditions regarding government intervention, local public service provision can vary greatly. In this paper we compare the procedures adopted by the local governments of The Netherlands and Spain in arranging for the provision of solid waste collection. We find that Spain faces a problem of consolidation, opting more frequently to implement policies of privatization and cooperation, at the expense of competition. By contrast, The Netherlands, which has larger municipalities on average, resorts somewhat less to privatization and cooperation, and more to competition. Both options-cooperation and competition-have their merits when striving to strike a balance between transaction costs and scale economies. The choices made in organizational reform seem to be related to several factors, among which the nature of the political system and the size of municipalities appear to be relevant.
authors: Department of Economic Policy, University of Barcelona.
authors: Germà
authors: G
authors: Bel
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Fageda
authors: Elbert
authors: E
authors: Dijkgraaf
authors: Raymond
authors: R
authors: Gradus
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D009426:Netherlands / Q000208:ethnology; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011640:Public Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012499:Sanitation / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013030:Spain / Q000208:ethnology