John Cubbin BA, MA, PhD, FRSA

 

 

CONSULTING REPORTS

 

This is a selection which should give an idea of the things I have been involved in since about 1988

 

By topic:

Competition:

Advertising and Competition Policy.   Advertising Association.

 

Bilateral market power. Henley Centre for Forecasting

 

Conglomerates' sources of competitive advantage and competitive effects.   (European Commission with Paul Geroski)

 

The economics of the petrol market. (For Oxera and Petrol Retailers Association)

 

Competition Policy Economics Guide:  Handbook for Office of Fair Trading (sole author)

 

Quantitative Techniques in Competition Analysis; Working paper for Office of Fair Trading. (Minor contributor + technical advice in collaboration with LECG)

 

 

Efficiency

Data Envelope Analysis software.  Written and installed for Halifax Building Society

 

A General Guide to Data Envelope Analysis

 

For Metropolitan Police:  A pilot study of DEA and divisional performance.

 

For Eastern Electricity.  Advice on issues arising from the Office of Electricity Regulation's review of efficiency in electricity distribution. 

 

For British Rail/Railtrack: Review of literature on and estimation of distribution cost functions.

 

For NUON (Dutch electricity distribution.)  Comments on the Regulator’s DEA model

 

For British Rail: Statistical Cost Analysis Applied to Rail Infrastructure: an initial review of feasibility

 

Comparative Efficiency: a preliminary evaluation of Ofwat's models

 

For Thames Water Utilities.  A critique of the Office of Water Regulation's approach to the measurement of comparative efficiency.  Advice on all aspects of the measurement of comparative performance.

 

For OFTEL.  Assessing the efficiency of BT's access business using international comparators (several studies at various dates with Nera) 

 

For Welsh Water: Advice on aspects of Ofwat’s econometrics in connection with price control review                                                                                                                  Back

 

For S Wales Electricity:  Advice on aspects of Ofgem’s econometrics in connection with price control review

 

For Northumbrian Water:   Evidence to MMC on effect of loss of a comparator

 

For Northern Ireland Electricity:  Evidence on comparative efficiency to Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

 

For Wessex Water:  Evidence to MMC on Wessex’s comparative efficiency using panel data.

 

For Home Office: “Peer review” of cost model for police

 

For Remu (Dutch Electricity):  Seminar on comparative efficiency measurement

 

For CAA:  Airports cost functions for international benchmarking 

 

For Water UK:  Assessing Ofwat’s Efficiency Econometrics March 2004

 

For Scottish Water:  How appropriate are Ofwat’s efficiency models for Scotland?

 

For Postcomm:  Internal benchmarking of Royal Mail efficiency.

 

Regulation

How does the Regulator See the Market? Implications for National Power's Investment and Pricing Decisions

 

Pricing Rail Infrastructure.

 

Railway Infrastructure as a Common User Facility: a Report to the British Railways Board.

 

A Forecast of National Construction Prices

 

 

Econometric analysis

A Forecast of National Construction Prices

 

Statistical Cost Analysis Applied to Rail Infrastructure: an initial review of feasibility

 

Literature Survey on Distribution Cost Analysis

 

Understanding Investment in Electricity Distribution

 

Econometric Analysis of Electricity Distribution Costs

 

The National Lottery: a demand study (adviser to Nera)

 

Passenger Rail Demand:  an econometric study for SRA (adviser to Nera)

 

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By Sector

Rail

Railway Infrastructure as a Common User Facility: a Report to the British Railways Board.

 

Competition in Rail Services: Implications for the Trading Framework.

 

Competition in Rail Services: Subsidy Issues.

 

Economies of Scale and Density in the Railway Industry: a comment.

 

Franchising Regional and Other Subsidised Railway Services.

 

Pricing Rail Infrastructure.

 

Access to Railway Infrastructure in Europe

 

Statistical Cost Analysis Applied to Rail Infrastructure: an initial review of feasibility

 

A Rail Fares Index (adviser to Nera for Opraf)

 

Passenger Rail Demand:  an econometric study for SRA (adviser to Nera)

 

Water

For Thames Water Utilities.  A critique of the Office of Water Regulation's approach to the measurement of comparative efficiency.  Advice on all aspects of the measurement of comparative performance.

 

For Wessex Water:  Evidence to MMC on Wessex’s comparative efficiency using panel data.

 

For Welsh Water: Advice on aspects of Ofwat’s econometrics in connection with price control review

 

For Water UK:  Assessing Ofwat’s Efficiency Econometrics March 2004

 

For Scottish Water:  How appropriate are Ofwat’s efficiency models for Scotland?

 

Electricity

Is the Electricity Market Tolerably Competitive?

 

How does the Regulator See the Market? Implications for National Power's Investment and Pricing Decisions

 

What should National Power's Discount Rate be?

 

Market and Regulatory Failure in the Electricity Market

 

Market Power and Risk

 

Literature Survey on Distribution Cost Analysis

 

Understanding Investment in Electricity Distribution

 

Econometric Analysis of Electricity Distribution Costs

 

For Northern Ireland Electricity:  Evidence on comparative efficiency to Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

 

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Telecoms

Efficiency of BT's Access Business

 

Efficiency of BT: a report to Oftel (adviser to Nera –several occasions)

 

Comparative Efficiency: an evaluation of progress to date

 

Closure of Excess Capacity in Electricity Generation

 

Postal services

Efficiency measurement and regulatory strategy.  Assessment of alternative approaches to measurement of efficiency improvement, with strategic implications.  (For Royal Mail)

 

For Postcomm:  Internal benchmarking of Royal Mail efficiency.

 

Training, etc

Competition economics:

Turkish Competition Authority

Oftel

Ofgem

HM Treasury

 

Economics of Regulation:

Ofgem

Surrey University Energy MSc programme

 

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