Abstract
Convergence refers to the blurring of boundaries between formerly separate industries and is a multi-tiered phenomenon that is unfolding in complex ways. The chapter develops a conceptual framework for the study of convergence processes. It distinguishes technical, market, and organizational convergence and analyzes the main forces shaping them. Convergence is assessed with regard to its impacts on the effectiveness of competition in infrastructure markets. It is demonstrated that, depending on the specific circumstances, convergence can increase or decrease effective competition. As a result, convergence can have desirable or undesirable implications for welfare. Based on this analysis, we are able to distinguish situations, which require a public policy response from those that can be left to market forces.
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Bauer, J.M., Weijnen, M.P., Tuk, A.L., Herder, P.M. (2003). Delineating the Scope of Convergence in Infrastructures. In: Thissen, W.A.H., Herder, P.M. (eds) Critical Infrastructures State of the Art in Research and Application. International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, vol 65. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0495-5_10
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0495-5_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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