Abstract: |
This study indentifies the factors that influence the performanceof state industries.Based on a review of thirteen countries,the authours isolate three qualities in the business and managerialenvironment that distinguish successful public enterprises fromthe others. These are (a) the degree of competition that publicenterprises are exposed to; (b) the degree of financial autonomyand accountability under which public enterprises operater;and (c) the extent and manner in which managerial autonomy andaccountability are ensured. It is impossible, and perhaps misleading,to assess statistically the importance of each of these factors.Where all three exist, however, the performance of public enterprisesis significantly better than in those cases where most or allthese factors are absent. |