Privatization

The 31 articles in this book discuss the pros and cons of privatization of public services. Examined are the need for alternative service delivery; the process of privatization; concrete examples of privatizing services generic to local governments; precautions; and the future of privatization.

Roger L. Kemp, Ph.D., ICMA-CM, has been a city manager on both the East and West coasts for more than 25 years. He is presently Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University and a Fellow of The Academy of Political Science.

Edited by Roger L. Kemp

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 336
Bibliographic Info: tables, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007 [1991]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3250-9
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgment      iv
Foreword      vii
1. Introduction      1

Part One: The Need
2. Dividing the Pie Between Public and Private      25
3. Privatization and America’s Cities      29
4. Service Shedding—A New Option      39
5. Public Services and the Private Sector      53
6. Privatization May Be Good for Your Government      60
7. Status of Local Privatization      69

Part Two: The Process
8. Contracting as an Approach to Public Management      87
9. A Means to Achieve “More with Less”      97
10. Making the Decision      110
11. Contracting for Services      122
12. The Politics of Advocacy      132
13. Coproduction and Local Governments      143

Part Three: The Application
14. Fire Protection      151
15. Information Resources;      161
16. Public Parks      168
17. Prisons and Jails      174
18. Public Works      184
19. Refuse Collection      193
20. Street Sweeping      204
21. Transit      211
22. Wastewater Treatment      223

Part Four: The Precautions
23. Uses and Misuses      233
24. Two Different Concepts      250
25. Problems      262
26. The Unions      267
27. A Cautionary Note      272
28. A Survey of Management Practices      276

Part Five: The Future
29. Considerations for the Future      291
30. The Business of Local Government      297
31. The Choice Between Privatization and Publicazation      305
32. The Private Market Can’t Always Solve Public Problems      311

Chapter Notes      315
About the Contributors      321
Index      341

• “excellent”—Choice
• “guidelines, examples, and precautions are outlined”—American Libraries