This book explores the development of the gas industry within Latin Europe (France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain). Through charting the growth of this industry during the 19th and 20th centuries, the technology and public policies used are examined to highlight the long term impact of the industry. Utilising a comparative analysis, similarities and variation between the development of gas within the Latin European countries is compared and contrasted with the aid of specific case studies.This book aims to place the development of gas resources in Latin Europe within a global perspective that takes into account the development of energy resources in the rest of Europe and the world more generally. It will be of interest to students and researchers working within energy economics and economic history.
The book forms part of the results of the research project ‘Gas in Latin Europe: a comparative and global perspective (1818-1945)’, financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of the Spanish Government and ERDP Funds.
Author(s): Jesús Mirás-Araujo, Andrea Giuntini
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 202
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Chapter 1: Introduction. State of the Art: The Gas Industry in Latin Europe Countries Between 1850 and 1920—An Overview
Infrastructures and Latin Europe
Chronology: A Very Intriguing Changing Season in European Infrastructures
The Gas Industry in Latin Europe
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 2: The Territorial Diffusion of the Gas Industry in Latin Europe Before the Competition from Electricity
Introduction
France: Leader in the Gas Industry
The Italy of Contrasts: The Central European North vs. the Mediterranean Mezzogiorno
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Between the Spanish and Catalan Gas Models
Portugal: Lagging Behind and Territorially Polarised
Latin Europe: An Overall Perspective
Conclusion
References
Chapter 3: The Regulation of Gas in Latin Europe (1850–1920)
Introduction
Great Britain
France: From Regulation to Nationalisation
Spain: The Dominance of Private Companies
Italy and the Late Expansion of Gas
Portugal: The Dominance of Private Companies
Conclusions
References
Chapter 4: The Municipalisation of Gas in Latin Europe: Spain, Portugal and France Until the First World War
Introduction
The Legislative Framework for Running Public Services
Regional Disparities in the Municipalisation of Services in the Countries of Latin Europe
The Different Paths That Led to the Municipalisation of the Gas Services: Political Ideology, Conflicts with the Local Governments and the Failure of Business Management
Conclusion
References
Chapter 5: Gas in the First World War in Latin Europe
Introduction
Gas Production
Coal Becomes a Precious Commodity
The Demand by the Gas Companies to Increase the Price of Gas
Repercussions of the War on Human Capital and Gas Infrastructure
Conclusions
References
Chapter 6: Gas in Paris and Rome from Its Origins to the Competition with Electricity
Introduction
Paris, One of the Pioneer Cities of Gas Lighting
Gas in the Italian Context
The Expansion of Gas Consumption in Paris
The Vatican Rome of the Popes; Rome, the Capital City of Italy
The Resistance of the Parisian Gas Industry to Electricity
The Competition with Electricity in Italy
Brief Final Remarks
References
Chapter 7: The Gas Industry in Madrid During the Civil War (1936–1939)
Introduction
The Gas Business in Madrid Remains in the Republican Zone
The Collapse of Gas Production
The Nosedive in Gas Consumption
Conclusions
References
Index
