Private vs. Public Ownership

A twentieth-century truism is that private ownership necessarily leads to more efficient operation of industries and public services. There are a number of variables that need to be taken into consideration when evaluating this premise: the measure of efficiency (e.g., productivity, number employed, profitability to shareholders, or the extent to which the service itself meets societal needs), the sort of industry or service, corruption in prior state management, and whether a monopolistic approach is beneficial, and to whom?

We invite you to examine evidence and experience from the references given. The answer may depend on the example that matters to you.