This conference is being held at the early stages in a cluster of related studies on the political economy of electric power systems in developing countries. The event has been timed to allow the presentation of the first drafts of the overall framework as well as individual case studies-to be critiqued and counseled. The introductory overview provides a framework for thinking about the "political economy" of reform-the legal, political and institutional issues that largely determine the organization of electric power systems and explain the outcomes of different attempts at reform. The study is expected to be finalized by summer 2003.
The Program on Energy and Sustainable Development is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.