Economic policy

Operating system

Psychiatry

Physics

Geodesy

Philosophy

Psychology

Economics

Power (physics)

Political science

Geography

Pace

Government (linguistics)

Intervention (counseling)

Economic reform

Computer science

Linguistics

Development economics

Economic growth

Quantum mechanics

Economic system

Developing country

Politics

Process (computing)

Energy Policy

Power sector reform is rapidly spreading across all corners of the developing world at an alarmingly rapid pace. While the rationales for reform seem to have gained acceptance among the stakeholders, the reform model and process are contested. This paper examines the impacts of reform using the promised outcomes as a basis for analysis. The ability of reform to meet the developmental challenges facing the reformers is explored. It concludes that reform has had some achievements if conventional performance indicators are used but also questions the validity of some of these indicators. Reform has however not fulfilled many of its goals and the prevailing recipes are likely to leave developing countries socially and economically worse off than in the pre-reform period. Progressive government intervention is needed to shift reform process towards a more responsible development path.

Power sector reform in developing countries: mismatched agendas