Managing political risk through increased local participation : innovations in water sector PSP from Tirupur, India

Using primary data from an innovative water project in Tirupur, India with findings from two well-documented water projects in Latin America, this thesis asks: How might greater equity participation and decision-making authority among a broad base of users insulate against key political risks that have beset water sector private sector participation (PSP) in the past? I utilize concepts from the political risk literature, which have mainly been applied to the extractive and manufacturing industries, and extend this consideration to the water sector. I present preliminary findings, based on field research in India, that suggest increased local participation in water sector PSPs can mitigate against key political risks that have created problems elsewhere. These early findings challenge the conventional wisdom about water privatization and suggest a means to improve the design of future PSPs to reduce some of the risks and controversy that have characterized the sector.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Michael D. (Michael David)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lawrence Susskind.

• Urban Studies and Planning.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/34408

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/34408