Cities and Privatization

Book excerpt: This concise, readable book focuses on privatization at the municipal level, blending theory with practical matters, and containing real-life examples of privatization. It presents the practical arguments and theoretical frameworks for and against using privatization, summarizes the evidence on efficiency between public and private organizations performing similar tasks, and includes numerous examples of privatization taken from the real-world of city management. Chapter topics cover cities and the privatization debate; the evidence on efficiency and the use of privatization by cities; examining various dimensions of municipal privatization; successes, failures and persistent urban issues; and prospects for the new century. For anyone that is interested in privatization at the municipal level.