摘要：This paper gives an empirical examination of efficiency of the regulated firm. Rate of return regulation is a typical feature of the public utility environment. The theoretical analysis by Averch-Johnson showed the existence of a regulatory bias toward overcapitalization. We reexamine and elaborate the method of the empirical test for the Averch-Johnson proposition. And we apply it to the Japanese electric power industry. We showed that the Averch-Johnson proposition was not necessarily confirmed and the production in the Japanese electric power industry was efficient for some period in spite of regulation.
