The Consequences of Treating Electricity as a Right
解释发展中国家数十亿人缺电或供电不可靠的原因，认为将电力视为权利会引发补贴、盗窃、不付费、配电公司亏损、政府限供、支付激励下降的恶性循环，最终导致供电不均且不稳定，阻碍经济增长。
This paper seeks to explain why billions of people in developing countries either have no access to electricity or lack a reliable supply. We present evidence that these shortfalls are a consequence of electricity being treated as a right and that this sets off a vicious four-step circle. In step 1, because a social norm has developed that all deserve power independent of payment, subsidies, theft, and nonpayment are widely tolerated. In step 2, electricity distribution companies lose money with each unit of electricity sold and in total lose large sums of money. In step 3, government-owned distribution companies ration supply to limit losses by restricting access and hours of supply. In step 4, power supply is no longer governed by market forces and the link between payment and supply is severed, thus reducing customers’ incentives to pay. The equilibrium outcome is uneven and sporadic access that undermines growth.