ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses policy and regulatory aspects of the postal sector. The postal sector is undergoing significant changes, which are not only caused by technological progress. Whereas postal services have been traditionally provided by a monopolist, the sector has continued to be increasingly liberalized in recent years, and competition to the incumbent postal operator could still evolve. In the recent past, the discussion mainly focused on arguments concerning liberalization and sector-specific de-or re-regulation, especially regarding universal service obligations (USOs). In the present, the risks and opportunities for postal operators in the digital age have become the main issues for academics, policymakers, and regulators.
