Privatization of Public Enterprises: Trends and Issues This book presents a critical assessment of India's disinvestment exercise initiated as part of the larger economic reforms in 1991. The macro-economic crisis of the 1980s exposed the excessive expansion of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) which manifested a number of weaknesses in their performance. This domestic crisis was converted into an opportunity when a massive programme of disinvestment of PSEs was launched in a phased manner. A number of PSEs were privatized through the sale of equity to the public. The purpose of the reform was to limit their size and redefine their role to enhance productivity and efficiency. This study intends to review the functioning of the disinvestment drive on empirical grounds. To be precise, it examines to what extent the disinvestment of PSEs is successful on the parameter of financial efficiency, modernization, employment generation, regional imbalance, utilization of proceeds, and methods of privatization. The book provides insight for researchers and policymakers working on this current subject.

In Global Trade and Social Issues leading academics and NGO workers offer a much-needed counterweight to the liberal consensus. A critical reflection on the whole project of restructuring world trade, this is essential reading for those working in international political economy, development studies, international relations and environmental studies.

This book is the first to draw upon a range of disciplines to offer theoretical perspectives upon their analysis of public-private partnerships. It also offers a series of case-studies of their management from around the world.

A timely book on an important subject for the future of higher education in America

This book considers the many facets of the privatization process in advanced industrialised countries, along with the marketization of Eastern Europe, and the pressures on developing countries to adopt privatization as the route to growth.

Agribusiness development has been constrained by distorted economic policies and institutional controls in the emerging market economies and in most of the developing countries. In the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the agribusiness complex was dominated by state-owned enter prises. In many of the developing countries, economic policies discriminated against agriculture and agribusiness. The results have been obvious. Despite major technological advances, agriculture and agribusiness sectors in these economies remained inefficient. A large share of the population, particu larly in the rural areas, has not been able to improve household incomes and living standards. The final decade of the 20th century will certainly be recorded as one of the most dynamic in modem history. The restructuring of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and market reforms in many of the developing countries are progressing at a rapid pace. Agribusiness is key to economic perfor mance in these areas in that agriculture is an important sector in many of these economies. Economic transition to a market economy is presenting many challenges and opportunities to accelerate the process of agribusiness development, which is so essential to alleviate rural poverty. An international symposium, organized by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), provided a unique opportunity to discuss needed policy reforms to promote efficient and competitive agribusiness develop ment, with a particular focus on privatization and deregulation.

Deregulation, privatization and marketization have become the bywords for the reforms and debates surrounding the public sector. This major book is unique in its comparative analysis of the reform experience in Western and Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Leading experts identify a number of key factors to systematically explain the similarities and differences, map common problems and together reflect on the future shape of the public sector, exploring significant themes in a lively and accessible way.

Globalization has proliferated business with numerous challenges and opportunities, and simultaneously at other end the growth in economy, population, income and standard of living has redefined the scope of business and thus the business houses approaches. A highly competitive environment, knowledgeable consumers and quicker pace of technology are keeping business enterprises to be on their toes. Today management and its concepts have become key for survival of any business entity. The unique cultural characteristics, tradition and dynamics of consumer, demand an innovative management strategy to achieve success. Effective Management has become an increasingly vital ingredient for business success and it profoundly affects our day-to-day life. Today, the role of a business houses has changed from merely selling products and services to transforming lives and nurturing lifestyles. The Indian business is changing and so do the management strategies. These changing scenarios in the context of globalization will bestow ample issues, prospects and challenges which need to be explored. The practitioners, academicians and researchers need to meticulously review these aspects and acquaint them with knowledge to sustain in such scenarios. Thus, these changing scenarios emphasize the need of a broad-based research in the field of management also reflecting in management education. This book is an attempt in that direction. I sincerely hope that this book will provide insights into the subject to faculty members, researchers and students from the management institutes, consultants, practicing managers from industry and government officers.

With public colleges and universities facing substantial budget cuts and increased calls for accountability, more institutions now rely on private revenue streams for support. As market-driven policies and behaviors become more commonplace, some cautious critics sound the alarm, while others watching the bottom line cheer. But which perspective gets it right? Does the privatization of public higher education threaten its very mission or support it? In this collection of essays, economists, policy makers, political scientists, sociologists, and organizational researchers discuss the impact of privatization from their respective disciplinary perspectives and assess its implications for the future of higher education. Privatization may bring additional funds and services that are free from government regulations and oversight, but does it also allow private interests to have undue influence over public higher education? Should public universities have to compete in the economic marketplace as vigorously as they do in the marketplace of ideas? What are the implications when institutions of higher learning function like businesses? With privatization now a reality for most public colleges and universities, an objective examination of the issue from these diverse academic perspectives will be welcomed by those struggling with its challenges.