This book focuses on the politics of privatization in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. It examines both the micro- and macroeconomics of achieving privatization, the policy measures introduced, and factors affecting the implementation of privatization. The political dimensions of privatization are analyzed to explain the variations in national success in formulating and implementing privatization programs. The book argues that evidence suggests that national governments planned, but rarely implemented, divestiture policies from a technical standpoint; rather, privatization is a learning process th ... More

This book focuses on the politics of privatization in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. It examines both the micro- and macroeconomics of achieving privatization, the policy measures introduced, and factors affecting the implementation of privatization. The political dimensions of privatization are analyzed to explain the variations in national success in formulating and implementing privatization programs. The book argues that evidence suggests that national governments planned, but rarely implemented, divestiture policies from a technical standpoint; rather, privatization is a learning process that evolves through trial and error. It also examines the apparently ‘unconventional’ methods used by the governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Peru to achieve privatization. Comparative in its approach, the book also seeks to shed light on the nature of privatization in countries throughout the developing world. More generally, it argues that poorly designed privatization policies may have serious future implications on issues such as the rule of law and the regulation of public utilities.