Infrastructure System Obstacles and Technology Adoption by Firms in Transition Countries

Abstract

This study uses business survey data to analyze firm perceptions of infrastructure systems in transition countries as obstacles to conducting business. Factors that contribute to reported perceptions are modeled, including country macroeconomic conditions, firm characteristics, and measures of overall reforms and infrastructure system reforms. Identified obstacles arise from binding constraints that limit economic growth, reflect implicit shadow costs, and signal areas in need of policy reform or infrastructure investment. The analysis covers electric power, telecommunications, transportation, and water and wastewater infrastructure systems. Also examined is whether transition indicators of reforms, intended to reflect improvements, are associated with perceptions of obstacles. Beyond identifying infrastructure obstacles and the effects of reforms during the transition process, we also explore firm adoptions of new electronic technologies, essentially a new infrastructure system, as they use email, websites, cell phones, and high-speed Internet in their business activity.

Keywords

• infrastructure
• electricity
• water and wastewater
• telecommunications
• business obstacles