TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of privatization on sustainability transitions
T2 - A comparative analysis of dynamic capabilities in three water utilities
AU - Lieberherr, Eva
AU - Truffer, Bernhard
PY - 2015/6/15
Y1 - 2015/6/15
N2 - This paper analyzes the ability of water utilities to contribute to sustainability transition processes. More specifically, we compare the capacity of utilities, embedded in purely public, mixed and largely private governance modes, to innovate. We employ dynamic capabilities as core indicators for innovativeness and therefore as major enabling factors for sustainable sector transitions. We assess the relationship between governance modes and innovation by conducting an in-depth comparative analysis of three water utilities, each within a differing governance mode along the public-to-private continuum: Zurich, Berlin and Leeds. While we find that the private and mixed governance modes have an increased degree of innovativeness, they perform lower in terms of static sustainability criteria than the public mode. We therefore conclude that the impact of privatization on sustainability transitions in the water sector involves multi-dimensional trade-offs between static and dynamic sustainability criteria.
AB - This paper analyzes the ability of water utilities to contribute to sustainability transition processes. More specifically, we compare the capacity of utilities, embedded in purely public, mixed and largely private governance modes, to innovate. We employ dynamic capabilities as core indicators for innovativeness and therefore as major enabling factors for sustainable sector transitions. We assess the relationship between governance modes and innovation by conducting an in-depth comparative analysis of three water utilities, each within a differing governance mode along the public-to-private continuum: Zurich, Berlin and Leeds. While we find that the private and mixed governance modes have an increased degree of innovativeness, they perform lower in terms of static sustainability criteria than the public mode. We therefore conclude that the impact of privatization on sustainability transitions in the water sector involves multi-dimensional trade-offs between static and dynamic sustainability criteria.
KW - Dynamic capabilities
KW - Innovation
KW - Privatization
KW - Sustainability transitions
KW - Urban water sector
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893184144&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.eist.2013.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.eist.2013.12.002
M3 - Article
SN - 2210-4224
VL - 15
SP - 101
EP - 122
JO - Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
JF - Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
ER -