A Future for Public Ownership

by Sawyer, Malcolm; O'Donnel, Kathy

• ISBN13: 9780853158851
• ISBN10: 0853158851
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Lawrence & Wishart Ltd

Summary

This book marks the beginning of a rethink about public ownership of the utilities - the authors argue that the pendulum has swung too far in favour of privatisation, and it is time that a cool look was taken at the pros and cons of different forms of ownership.
Based on specially commissioned research, A Future for Public Ownership focuses on the four key utilities of rail, water, gas and electricity. It looks at possible different forms of public ownership of these utilities, and argues that the advantages of privatisation have been overstated; it also argues a strong case for the feasibility of taking back into public ownership at least some parts of the utilities.

Author Biography

Professor Malcolm Sawyer is Director of the Centre for Industrial Policy and Performance at the University of Leeds.

Table of Contents

Preface
Summary of argument
Introduction	p. 1
What can public ownership achieve?	p. 4
Comparative performance of public and private ownership	p. 19
Issues of regulation	p. 31
Practical constraints on public ownership	p. 43
Efficiency, ownership, agency and vertical (dis)integration	p. 65
Options for public ownership	p. 80
Conclusions and recommendations	p. 105
References	p. 113
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