장기한계비용을 이용한 한국의 최적 수도요금결정에 관한 연구

A Study on the Optimal Water Pricing by Long Run Marginal Cost in Korea

Besides insufficient water, water contamination confronts us with 'water crises' of both quantity and quality. However, the daily water consumption per capita of Korea is greater than that of other developed countries. Because of the current low water price, which is lower than a half of production cost, not only does it become difficult to cope promptly with rapidly increasing water demand and water contamination, but it also causes waste of water. We should, therefore, switch over from supply side management-oriented policy to demand side management-oriented policy through a raise of the water rate. This study carries out a cost analysis based on fair return method which is the principle of water pricing in Korea, and it estimates, through equilibrium analysis, long run marginal cost(LRMC), which satisfies allocative efficiency and reflects true social cost to additional one-unit water supply. Based on the results, this study proposes that the estimated LRMC is the optimal price level in water pricing, which is the most important of the demand side management policies. In the end, water conservation effect, price pervasive effect, and social welfare effect are analyzed.