Daseinsvorsorge und Universaldienst

For a long time, services of general economic interest were exempted from the general rules of competition, as they were seen as domains to be protected from competition and to be administrated by the government. Bernhard Aubin presents an investigation of the oft-asserted conflict between competition and the common good in these sectors. To what extent can and should economic competition be a governing principle in this area? Do the citizens share legitimate common objectives which would inhibit a complete liberalization of these sectors? In addition to the investigation of sociopolitical arguments and problems of economic competition, the author lays a special focus on the analysis of the goal of universal service provision at accessible prices.