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Postal Worksharing

Welfare, Technical Efficiency, and Pareto Optimality

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Emerging Competition in Postal and Delivery Services

Part of the book series: Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy Series ((TREP,volume 31))

Abstract

Competition is generally believed to lead to efficiency, be it economic or technical. One method of introducing competition into postal systems, without affecting the universal service obligation, is through what have been termed “worksharing” discounts.2 The worksharing notion is that a discount should be offered to mailers or competitors3 who do portions of the postal work and then turn the mail over to the postal service for completion of delivery. Note that there is no requirement that the mailer actually perform any particular piece of work, only that the mail be presented so that the postal service4 does not have to do that piece of work.

The author is Special Assistant to the Postal Rate Commission, an independent U. S. Government Agency, separate from the United States Postal Service. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent opinions or positions of the Postal Rate Commission.

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References

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  • Bernstein, Peter. Direct Testimony on Behalf of the United States Postal Service, USPS-T-1, Docket No. R97–1, Postal Rate Commission.

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  • Crew, M.A., and P.R. Kleindorfer. 1995. “Pricing in Postal Service Under Competitive Entry.” In Commercialization of Postal and Delivery Services, edited by M.A. Crew and P.R. Kleindorfer. Boston: Kluwer.

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  • Mitchell, R.W. 1990. Direct Testimony on Behalf of the United States Postal Service, USPS-T-20, Docket No. R90–1, Postal Rate Commission.

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© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Mitchell, R.W. (1999). Postal Worksharing. In: Crew, M.A., Kleindorfer, P.R. (eds) Emerging Competition in Postal and Delivery Services. Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy Series, vol 31. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-5122-2_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-5122-2_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5080-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-5122-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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