Privatization and Economic Performance

Matthew Bishop; John Kay; Colin Mayer

ISBN 10: 0198773439 / ISBN 13: 9780198773436

Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1994

About this Item

First edition first printing octavo hardback 392 pp. Fine condition in Fine unclipped dust jacket No inscriptions.

Seller Inventory # 070542

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Privatization and Economic Performance
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Oxford
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198773439
• ISBN 13: 9780198773436
• Binding: Hardback
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Lighter Books
  • Children's Books

About this title

Synopsis

One of the most enduring legacies of the 1980s has been the programme of privatizations that the Thatcher government set in train in the first half of the decade. Whole sectors of the UK economy which were formerly part of the public sector were sold off to the private sector. Some were bought out by their employees; others were bought by the public at large. Some public services were contracted out to the private sector; others were placed on a more commercial footing.

The UK privatization programme had an influence on economic policy throughout the world. Privatization programmes were initiated in Asia, South America, and Africa, as well as Europe and North America. The most recent to experiment with privatizations have been the East European countries which have seen privatization as the fastest route to move from socialism to capitalism.

The purpose of this book is to stand back and examine what has been learnt from the extensive programme of privatization that the UK government has completed, and to consider what aspects of privatization remain to be done. This book attempts to evaluate different sectors of the UK economy over the past 10 years. It examines what has happened and why, where have been the successes and failures, what lessons can be learnt for the design of privatization programmes elsewhere and what can the UK government still can do usefully in this area.

From the Back Cover

One of the most enduring legacies of the 1980s has been the programme of privatizations that the Thatcher government set in train in the first half of the decade. Whole sectors of the UK economy which were formerly part of the public sector were sold off to the private sector. Some were bought out by their employees; others were bought by the public at large. Some public services were contracted out to the private sector; others were placed on a more commercial footing. The UK privatization programme had an influence on economic policy throughout the world. Programmes were also initiated in Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, North America, and, most recently, East and Central Europe. The purpose of this book, a companion volume to The Regulatory Challenge by the same editors, is to stand back and examine what has been learnt from the extensive programme of privatization that the UK government has completed, and to consider what aspects of privatization remain to be done. It attempts to evaluate systematically the privatizations that have been undertaken in different sectors of the UK economy over the last ten years. It examines what has happened and why, where the successes and failures have been, what lessons can be learnt for the design of privatization programmes elsewhere, and what the UK government can still usefully do in this area.