The Changing Postal and Delivery Sector

Abstract

Twenty-two papers, resulting from the Twenty-Fourth Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics held in May 2016 at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute in Florence, explore topics in postal and delivery services, addressing the impact of the internet and the resulting electronic competition in the postal sector, as well as market change and new users' priorities, the impact of regulatory and competition dynamics, and the rethinking of the Universal Service Obligation. Papers discuss the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act after ten years--some proposals for reform; lessons from the postal sector to telecommunications and vice versa; e-substitution and the demand for business mail in the United Kingdom--trends and prospects; an examination of the links between postal price constraints, efficiency, competition, and public welfare; the personalization and volume trade-off--whether there is a future without saturation mail; an economic perspective on terminal dues; a case study of density of retail outlets in Portugal--regulation and politics in postal markets; minimum wages in the award of public contracts after RegioPost; protecting consumers using postal and e-commerce delivery services in competitive European markets; e-commerce in Europe--parcel delivery prices in a digital single market; US postal markets and delivery liberalization--a simulation approach; the sharing economy and the "Uberization" phenomenon--the question of what impacts the economy in general and delivery operators in particular; block-chain technology and cryptocurrencies--opportunities for postal financial services; digital identities--a good move for postal operators; the digital future of the printed publishing material and the impact on the postal sector; econometric benchmarking of delivery and processing costs in the UK postal sector; changes to the Universal Service Obligation--influencing factors, impacts, and regulatory implications; mail composition and recipients' reaction to direct mail; the total price of mail--a consumer perspective; the challenge of designing access to the postal network--an economics perspective; whether the postal sector should change its social model to succeed in its transformation; and whether the Universal Postal Union is still relevant. The late Crew was Professor of Regulatory Economics and Director of the Center for Research in Regulated Industries at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Parcu is with the Florence School of Regulation at the European University Institute. Brennan is with the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. No index.