Privatization

Privatization, conversion of businesses from government ownership to private property. This can involve the denationalization of industry as well as allowing the private sector to provide what had been considered government services.

For information on:

• techniques of privatization, see use of certificates in Ukraine: Economy; partial public stock offerings in Austria: Economy; vouchers in Kazakhstan: Economy; New Economic Policy; Telephone: The Telephone Industry Today
• sweeping and successful recent privatization moves, see Asia: Patterns of Economic Development; Czech Republic: Economy; Pakistan: Economy
• privatization efforts showing some positive results after initial setbacks, see Poland: Economy
• other Soviet-bloc privatization efforts, see Armenia (country): Economy; Berlin: Economy; Bulgaria: Economy; Bulgaria: Recent Developments; Hungary: Economy; Kyrgyzstan: Economy; Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Romania: Economy; Russia: Economy; Turkmenistan: Economy
• Latin American privatization, see Ecuador: A New Prosperity; Latin America: Liberal Republics and Dictatorships; Mexico: 1988 Election; South America: Manufacturing; Uruguay: Civilian Government; Venezuela: Economy
• privatization of railroads, see Argentina: Transportation; Federal Republic of Germany: Transportation; United Kingdom: Railways
• other privatization of specific industries, see France: Currency and Banking, banks; Sweden: Economy, telecommunications and electricity
• scandal and criticism associated with privatization, see Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin; Portugal: Democratic Reforms; Slovakia
• planned privitization, see Moldova: Economy; Fernando Henrique Cardoso
• privatization with mixed results, see Margaret Hilda Thatcher; Tansu Çiller; Michal Kováč