ISBN: 9780230224094    Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Year of publishing: 2009     Format:  Hardback No of Pages: 288        

This book presents a comprehensive overview and critical analysis of the processes of liberalisation and privatisation, and their consequences for economic performance, social cohesion and political democracy in the European Union. It examines the main drivers and the various theoretical rationales for privatisation in the context of different schools of thinking. It argues on the basis of broad empirical evidence that privatisation in Europe, particularly the ongoing privatisation of social services, undermines the basic elements of the different social models that have developed in Europe. These arguments are supported by a number of in-depth case studies, with specific focus on health care, education and finance. The authors of this volume advance from this critique and explore the basic requirements for a progressive public sector and its role for economic, social and democratic development. This book will be indispensable reading for all interested in Economic Policy, Public Sector Economics, European Integration and Political Science.
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MARICA FRANGAKIS is an economist, with a special interest in European affairs. She is a member of the Board of the 'Nicos Poulantzas Institute', a non-profit making institution, promoting public debate in a variety of areas. She is also involved with the ATTAC network, while she is an active member of the European Economists for an Alternative Economic Policy in Europe (EuroMemorandum Group). CHRISTOPH HERMANN is Senior researcher at the Working Life Research Centre (FORBA) in Vienna and co-coordinator of the EC funded research project 'Privatization of Public Services and the Impact on Quality, Employment and Producitvity'. JORG HUFFSCHMID was professor for political economy and economic policy at the University of Bremen in Germany. His research and publication areas are European integration and financial markets. He has been the scientific coordinator of various EU-wide projects and was founder of the EuroMemorandum Group. KAROLY LORANT spent most of his professional life in the Hungarian National Planning Office, where he dealt with long range forecasts. After the systemic change in Hungary he became a senior economist of the economic research institute named ECOSTAT. Over the past years he has been working as an expert for the European Parliament.
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