Three essays on the impact of market structure on network industries

In three essays, my dissertation looks changes in market structure in two network industries: telecommunications and freight railroads. These industries are similar in that both experience network effects and both have traditionally received significant government regulation. While both industries have been freed of federal price regulation, each continues to experience some government oversight. The first essay will look at the impact of the changes on service quality for local residential and business customers brought about by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The second essay will focus on the market for freight rail shipments and examine the effect of competition via trackage rights on market outcomes, where trackage rights may be privately agreed upon or imposed by the government. The third essay will look at the causes of price dispersion across freight rail shipment markets.