Economics
Neoliberalism and the Privatization of Public Services
Quick fact
Since the 1980s, more than 100 countries have privatized basic services like water, electricity, and transit, often on the belief that private companies run them more efficiently than governments. But studies show that when public services are sold off, prices can rise while service quality for the poor often falters.
Why this is interesting
What if the water you drink, the bus you ride, or the school your child attends were run by a corporation whose first duty is profit? That’s the world of privatization—and it may be closer than you think.