Privatization : a technical assessment

First, it presents a background discussion on the rise of the state-owned sector, the failure of state-owned enterprises, types of state-owned enterprises, and the definition of privatization. The next four sections discuss: (1) issues important to developing a strategy for privatization (e.g., initial considerations, the broader context of a privatization plan, choosing candidates for divestment); (2) implementation of a divestment plan (e.g., preparing and financing the sale of a state-owned enterprise, and management contracting as a prelude to divestment); (3) the privatization of municipal services, telecommunications systems, and energy supply; and (4) privatization of the agricultural sector. Although the concluding section begins with the caveat that the experience with privatization in the developing world is too recent to permit generalizations, several lessons learned from A.I.D."s experience (e.g., that privatization does not mean a loss of government control) are included. Includes two case studies, A.I.D."s policy statements on privatization, and a select bibliography.