Postal and Delivery Innovation in the Digital Economy

Worldwide, postal and delivery economics is the subject of considerable interest. The postal industry's business model is in drastic need of change. Notably, the European Commission and member states are still wrestling with the problems of implementing liberalization of entry into postal markets, addressing digital competition, and maintaining the universal service obligation. In the United States, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 has, perhaps, exacerbated some of the problems faced by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Currently, the USPS has serious financial problems because of difficulties it faces in making changes and the failure of the Act to address problems that have been long-standing. Electronic competition is severe and affects post offices (POs) worldwide, which have been slow to address the threat. This book addresses this new reality and includes discussion of how POs may attempt to reinvent themselves. Parcels and packets will play a major role in developing new business models for postal operators. This book is of use not only to students and researchers interested in the field, but also to postal operators, consulting firms, utilities, regulatory commissions, Federal Government Departments and agencies of the European Union and other countries.

Addresses some of the major issues facing postal and delivery services through the world

1 Business Models.- 2 e-commerce and the return of unwanted goods.- 3 The concentration phenomenon in e-commerce.- 4 Implications of 3D Printing for the United States Postal Service.- 5 Spam or ham? Assessing the value of direct mail.- 6 Targeting vs. Saturation: Derived Demand for Direct Mail.- 7 Quality and pricing of delivery services in the e-commerce sector.- 8 A Branching AIDS Model for Estimating U.S. Postal Price Elasticities.- 9 A Demand System Approach to Affordability.- 10 Welfare impact of changes in the scope of the USO.- 11 Potential gains and losses of (partial) lifting of home delivery obligations.- 12 Estimating the Financial Impact of Discontinuing Saturday Delivery of Letters and Flats in the U.S.- 13 Regulatory developments in post and telecommunications: a tale of two industries.- 14 Digital inclusion: a role of postal operators in a smart world.- 15 Informational privacy and registered certified mail: what do the people want?.- 16 Advanced semi-parametric and parametric methods to assess efficiency in the postal sector.- 17 On the detection of market and intangible benefits through consumer surveys.- 18 Different models of Postal Financial Services.- 19 When rapidly decreasing mail volumes call for more innovative social and economic approaches.- 20 Proactive surveys and calculations for meeting declining mail volumes.- 21 E-invoicing as the principal driver of change in B2X letter market definitions.- 22 The Competitive Fringe.- 23 Market Regulations and USO in the Revised Swiss Postal Act: Provisions and Authorities.- 24 Positioning the Postal Service for the Next Generation.- 25 Analyzing the prospects for transactional mail using a sender-recipient framework.