The public sector; regulating natural monopolies
Article Abstract:
The UK government has privatised many public services, including gas, telecommunications and water. This was done to improve the efficiency and productivity of the utilities and open up competition. Some of these utilities are natural monopolies i.e. they own networks such as the national electricity grid, water and gas pipelines and telephone grid which could not be replicated by competitors at a reasonable cost. With such national supplies there has to be consumer protection. There are various suggestions for improving the competitiveness of these natural monopolies.
Publication Name: British Economy Survey
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0263-3523
Year: 1993
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Employment in the public sector
Article Abstract:
The proportion of the United Kingdom population employed in the public sector dropped to 20.3% in 1995 from 26.6% in 1985. This is due to a number of changes including privatization. Some institutions have been reclassified as part of the private sector following reforms, for example in education. The Conservative government saw competition as likely to promote greater efficiency in resource utilization, so introduced measures to introduce competition in the public sector in this period.
Publication Name: British Economy Survey
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0263-3523
Year: 1997
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Section 3: the public sector: the future of higher education
Article Abstract:
One of the concerns regarding the case for expanding higher education in the UK is who should pay--taxpayers or students? The article notes the Government's 1/2003 publication of the White Paper, The Future of Higher Education, which included discussion about the topic of universities introducing "top up" tuition.
Publication Name: British Economy Survey
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0263-3523
Year: 2003
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