Optimal Local Exchange Carrier Size

Optimal firm size and patterns of returns to scaleamong the local exchange companies in the U.S.telecommunications industry are estimated for theyears: 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1990. Theindependent companies display increasing returns toscale, while the Baby Bells display constant ordecreasing returns to scale. The independentcompanies operate at a scale smaller than optimalsize, while the Baby Bells operate at a scale greaterthan optimal size. Efficiencies can be gained byindustry restructuring, by allowing independents toexpand their size while the Baby Bells can bedownsized to create smaller units.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43578/1/11151_2004_Article_142043.pd