Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Na indústria da água, as fraudes cometidas pelos clientes para acessar a água sem pagar afetam a receita da empresa, contribuem para aumentar as perdas físicas e interferem na ordem econômica, causando danos à sociedade. Os custos de transação ex post envolvem inspeção in loco se houver suspeita de fraude e execução legal no caso de uma fraude ser confirmada. No entanto, os indivíduos podem reagir de forma diversa frente aos custos e benefícios relacionados ao cumprimento das normas contratuais e legais. Analisamos 115.695 fraudes constatadas pela concessionária entre janeiro de 2010 e junho de 2016 na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. Os resultados indicaram que a fiscalização não apresentou influência importante sobre a quantidade de fraudes. Na categoria de uso residencial as áreas mais pobres e com baixo nível de instrução formal apresentaram as maiores quantidades de fraudes. Conclui-se que o fraudador típico nesta categoria está na fronteira do crime e assim sendo precisaria de um \"incentivo\" para escolher não cometer fraude. Nesse caso propomos dois caminhos inter-relacionados: impor um caráter mais educativo do que punitivo às inspeções e instituir um tipo de troca multilateral (Coase, 1960). Por outro lado, nas áreas com nível sócio econômico alto e muito alto apresentaram maior quantidade de fraudes na categoria de uso comercial relativamente às quantidades de fraudes constatadas na categoria de uso residencial. Esse resultado encontra respaldo em Becker (1968; 1974), cujo argumento incorpora o comportamento racional ilegal, e traz à cena o argumento de Hirschmann (1977), de que cabe à sociedade e às firmas tornar as estruturas políticas repressivas efetivas em adesão ao interesse civilizado. Devido às diferenças de governança dentro da empresa e no ambiente legal e social, a validade dos resultados é limitada à RMSP. / In water industry, frauds committed by customers to access water without paying affect firm´s revenue, contribute to increase physical losses and interfere in the economic order causing harm to society. Ex post transaction costs involve inspection in loco if fraud is suspected and legal enforcement in case a fraud is confirmed. However, individuals may react differently to the costs and benefits of complying with contractual and legal standards. We analyzed the 115,695 frauds registered in management system of the concessionaire between january 2010 and june/2016 in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. The results indicated that the inspections did not have an important influence on frauds quantity. Frauds were much more numerous in residential category of use in poorest areas with low level of formal education. It is concluded that typical fraudster in this category is at the border of crime. Therefore, he needs an \'incentive\' to choose not commit fraud. In this case we propose two interrelated paths: to impose a more educational than punitive character on the inspections and to institute a type of multilateral exchange (Coase, 1960). On the other hand, in commercial category of use frauds were much more numerous in areas with high and very high socioeconomic level. This result is supported by Becker (1968; 1974), whose argument incorporates the illegal rational behavior and brings to the scene Hirschmann´s argument (1977), that it is up to society and firms to make effective repressive political structures in adherence to civilized self-interest. Due to differences in governance within the firm and in legal and social environment, the validity of the results is limited to the MRSP.

Cette thèse porte sur les spécificités du secteur public et leurs impacts sur les incitations et la performance. Elle mobilise les outils microéconomiques de la théorie des contrats et l’analyse économétrique. Parmi ces caractéristiques, une attention particulière est portée sur les problématiques de surveillance, de gestion de l’information et de contraintes budgétaires. Le premier chapitre de cette thèse contribue au débat sur la transparence dans le secteur public en considérant l’une de ses caractéristiques majeure : un budget limité. Cette question est étudiée comme un problème de design informationnel et utilise un modèle principal agent sous aléa moral pour montrer que la transparence a plus de chance d’être sélectionnée par le principal lorsque que le budget disponible et la valeur de la tache sont faibles. Le deuxième chapitre s’attache à offrir une nouvelle explication théorique à l’intuition associant un accroissement de la pression bureaucratique à une baisse de la qualité. Dans ce but, l’idée d’«extra-mile» est introduite dans un modèle principal agent classique sous aléa-moral. Le management bureaucratique est caractérisé par l’introduction d’une procédure définie comme l’association d’une codification et d’une vérification. Une telle procédure permet une vérification plus précise de l’action de l’agent mais est source d’inefficience sociale. Le dernier chapitre, dans une démarche théorique et empirique, propose une nouvelle explication de la différence des prix de l’eau en France en se fondant sur des arguments organisationnels. / This thesis focuses on the structural specificities of the public sector and how they impact incentives and performance. It uses the microeconomic tools of contract theory and econometric analysis. Among these characteristics, special attention is paid to monitoring, information management and budget constraints by applying a theoretical lens, that allows to provide new insights into the incentive systems in place in the public sector. The first chapter contributes to the debate on transparency in the public sector by considering one of its major features, i.e. a limited budget. This issue is studied as an information design problem and employ a principal-agent model with moral hazard to show that if the principal has to choose between total transparency and total opacity, then transparency is more likely to be optimal when tasks are least valuable and budgets are lowest. The second chapter aims at capturing a new theoretical explanation for the widespread intuition that more bureaucracy could lead to less effort and quality despite improved control. To that end, the idea of “the extra mile” is introduced in a classic principal-agent model with moral hazard. Bureaucratic management is characterized by the use of procedures, defined as the association of codification and verification. A procedure allows for more accurate verification of the agent’s action, but is socially inefficient. In the third chapter, using both theory and regression analysis, we propose a new explanation for price differences in the French water industry based on organizational arguments.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the forms of ownership of the water supply infrastructure in terms of its operation, the number of operators and the impact assessment on the drinking water price for end customers. All this with a view to assessing whether it is appropriate to ensure the operation with private entities or to have municipalities operate the water management infrastructure separately. The analysis unambiguously confirms that the current number of owners and operators exceeding 9 thousand companies is unnecessarily harmful to the effective management of this area. Quantitative research shows that only 52 companies provide a full 97% of the volume of invoiced water. At the same time, economic analysis proves that the efficiency of the economy is not determined by ownership but by effective management. The result of this work is the confirmation that the water price is primarily influenced by the place of drinking water supply, long-term sustainable development of the water supply infrastructure area and effective management of an adequate number of companies.

As water systems are critical infrastructures, their continuous service is essential for maintaining vital functions of society. During the past decades, a number of severe global challenges have put increasing pressure on the water systems, threatening the quality and availability of water. Digitalization is expected to play a fundamental role in managing these challenges, making the digital transformation of the water industry an imperative rather than a choice for water utility providers. However, the implementation of digital solutions also entails a number of challenges, risks and vulnerabilities to water systems. As such, water utility providers are faced with increased complexity and uncertainty, where the safety and security of the system is at stake. This thesis addresses the potential implications of a digital transformation of the water industry by exploring how digitalization affects the Swedish water sector from a safety and security perspective. By doing so, the thesis aims to enhance the understanding of how Swedish water utility providers can manage its ongoing digital transformation. The thesis consists of a qualitative research study where interviews with 16 representatives from the Swedish water industry contributed with a broad perception of the implications of the digital transformation. Theory on high reliability organizations and resilience was applied to obtain a deeper understanding of what the potential safety and security implications may entail for Swedish water utilities in managing and reaping the benefits of their digital transformation. The study finds that representatives from the Swedish water sector mainly view benefits related to the efficiency of their operations from their ongoing digital transformation, while the mentioned drawbacks are generally related to their organizational abilities in managing the emerging risks and increased level of complexity. With increasing digitalization, Swedish water utilities coincide with the high reliability organization theory to a higher extent, which emphasizes the increasing importance of employing bothtechnical reliability and organizational resilience practices. This thesis concludes that technical reliability has historically been well-managed and prioritized by utilities, whilst organizational resilience has become an increasingly important aspect to focus on with increasing digitalization. Hence, practices of organizational resilience, such as incorporating clear strategies, integrating work between divisions and increasing follow-up from disturbances, should be employed on a wider scale among water utilities. / Då vattensystem är kritisk infrastruktur är deras kontinuerliga funktion avgörande för att upprätthålla vitala funktioner i samhället. Under de senaste decennierna har ett antal allvarliga globala utmaningar ökat trycket på vattensystemen, vilket hotar vattnets kvalitet och tillgänglighet. Digitalisering anses vara avgörande för att hantera dessa utmaningar, vilket gör digitalisering av vattenindustrin till en nödvändighet snarare än ett val för VA-bolag. Att implementera digitala lösningar medför emellertid också ett antal utmaningar, risker och sårbarheter för vattensystem. VA-bolagen står således inför en ökad komplexitet och osäkerhet där systemsäkerheten står på spel. Denna uppsats behandlar de potentiella implikationer som kan uppstå av en digital transformation av vattenindustrin genom att undersöka hur digitalisering påverkar den svenska VA-sektorn ur ett säkerhetsperspektiv. Genom detta syftar uppsatsen till att öka förståelsen för hur svenska VA-bolag kan hantera sin pågående digitalisering. En kvalitativ forskningsstudie har genomförts där intervjuer med 16 representanter från den svenska VA-sektorn bidrog med en bred uppfattning om digitaliseringens implikationer för den svenska VA-sektorn. Teori om high reliability organizations och resiliens användes för att fördjupa förståelsen för vad de potentiella säkerhetsimplikationerna kan innebära för svenska VAbolag, både för hantering av riskerna och för att ta till vara på fördelarna med den digitala transformationen. Studien visar att representanter från den svenska VA-sektorn, i deras pågående digitalisering, huvudsakligen ser fördelar relaterade till effektiviteten i vattenproduktionen, medan de nämnda nackdelarna i allmänhet är relaterade till deras egna förmågor att hantera de framväxande riskerna och den ökade komplexiteten. Med ökad digitalisering kan svenska VA-bolag i högre utsträckning beskrivas med teori kring high reliability organizations, vilket medför en ökad vikt av att arbeta med både teknisk tillförlitlighet och organisatorisk resiliens. Teknisk tillförlitlighet har historiskt hanterats väl och prioriterats av VA-bolag, medan organisatorisk resiliens har blivit allt viktigare att fokusera på med ökad digitalisering. Därför drar denna uppsats slutsatsen att arbete med organisatorisk resiliens, såsom att införa tydliga strategier, integrera arbetet mellan avdelningar och öka uppföljningsarbetet efter störningar, bör utföras i större skala bland VA-bolag.

Induction machine; outer rotor; water pump; thermal network; thermal analysis; optimization; electromagnetic model; finite element method; thermal insulation class