Does Privatization Deliver?: Highlights from a World Bank Conference

Examines 12 cases where privatization produced significant economic gains. Twelve case studies from Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom show that privatization can provide substantial economic gains, given the right policies. It is shown that a given developing country can increase its GDP by an average of 2.5 percent with the divestiture of half its public enterprises. Several enterprises were studied, including airlines, telecommunications firms, electric companies, a lottery, a transport company, and a container terminal. Each study looks at how privatization encouraged sound investment, responsible government, and market-friendly practices. Also examined are the equitable policies used to regulate monopolies, introduce competition, and sell public enterprises. Conference participants point out how these privatization methods could help many other countries achieve similar gains.Galal, Ahmed is the author of 'Does Privatization Deliver?: Highlights from a World Bank Conference' with ISBN 9780821325896 and ISBN 0821325892.