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How to privatise

Blanchard, O. and Layard, Richard (1991) How to privatise. CEP discussion paper (50). London School of Economics and Political Science. Centre for Economic Performance, London, UK.

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Abstract

Three main criteria should govern a privatisation plan: speed, fairness, and efficient control. From this view we derive our optimum scheme, though we recognise that in most countries it needs modifying to existing circumstances. 1. Privatisation should be by gift, not sale. But distribution by gift does not require distribution through vouchers. 2. To ensure efficient control of restructuring, there should be holding companies, each being the chief owner of enterprise drawn from a range of industries. Citizens should be given shares in each holding company. The holding company should be charged to restructure its enterprises and then sell all (or at least 50 per cent) of its shares within a 10-year period. The final pattern of owners would include citizens, workers, foreigners, and pension funds, but provision would be made for some ''stable core'' of owners - either interlocking ownership among firms, or major holdings by foreigners, banks or holding companies. 3. For smaller companies a different approach would suffice, involving direct sale or leasing. 4. If mass unemployment is to be avoided, it is crucial to create a mass market in housing. The only way to do this quickly is to give all houses to their existing tenants.

Item Type: Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL: http://cep.lse.ac.uk
Additional Information: © 1991 The Authors
Divisions: Economics
Centre for Economic Performance
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance
Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2013 12:59
Last Modified: 15 Sep 2023 22:39
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/48904

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