New Tools for Studying Network Industry Reforms in Developing Countries: The Telecommunications and Electricity Regulation Database

Abstract

We construct comprehensive and consistent datasets on telecommunications and electricity regulations in developing countries through extensive surveys of regulators. The database of telecommunications regulations includes 178 variables on regulatory governance and content in 45 countries. The database of electricity regulations includes 374 variables in 20 countries. This paper motivates the data collection exercise, explains the survey design, and provides a few examples of the types of information and results the data can yield. The appendix provides links to the freely available datasets and codebooks.