공공요금의 배분적 정의

Abstract

주요 선진국의 공익기업의 민영화 및 공공요금정책에 대한 개괄적인 분석으로부터 알 수 있는 사실은 현재의 추세가 형평성을 중시하던 입장에서 효율성을 중시하는 입장으로 전환되고 있다는 점이다. 효율성의 향상이 형평성 내지 배분적 정의의 실현을 수반한다면 더 바랄 것이 없지만 형평성과 효율성은 상충관계를 지니는 경우가 많다. 따라서 공익기업의 효율화를 둘러싼 논의에서 형평성 문제는 결코 간과되어서는 안될 것이다.

This paper analyzed the recent development in privatization of public utilities and pricing policies of major developed countries. A general implication of the analysis is that there is a changing trend from the perspective of equity to that of efficiency. The problem is the usual trade-off relationship between efficiency and equity. Privatization and development of new pricing method are important ongoing issues in Korea. Efficiency is, of course, a major criterion around those issues, but we have to emphasize equity as a criterion of equivalent importance.

This paper analyzed the recent development in privatization of public utilities and pricing policies of major developed countries. A general implication of the analysis is that there is a changing trend from the perspective of equity to that of efficiency. The problem is the usual trade-off relationship between efficiency and equity. Privatization and development of new pricing method are important ongoing issues in Korea. Efficiency is, of course, a major criterion around those issues, but we have to emphasize equity as a criterion of equivalent importance.