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The Market Mechanism, Market Failure and Government Intervention

Public ownership, privatisation, regulation and deregulation

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

The arguments on each side, regulatory capture, and what deregulation is meant to achieve.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is privatisation, and what is said for and against it?

Key term

What is regulatory capture, and what is deregulation?

Key term

How can deregulation improve market performance?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is public ownership (nationalisation)?

    Model answer

    When the state owns and controls firms or industries, rather than private individuals or shareholders.

  2. 2

    What is privatisation?

    Model answer

    The transfer of ownership of assets or enterprises from the public sector to the private sector.

  3. 3

    State an argument in favour of public ownership.

    Model answer

    It can guarantee provision of essential services, capture the economies of scale of a natural monopoly, and pursue social objectives rather than only profit.

  4. 4

    State an argument against public ownership.

    Model answer

    State-owned firms may lack the profit incentive to be efficient, can require taxpayer subsidy, and may be run for political rather than economic goals.

  5. 5

    State an argument in favour of privatisation.

    Model answer

    The profit motive and competition can improve efficiency, raise revenue for the government, and strengthen incentives to innovate and cut costs.

  6. 6

    State an argument against privatisation.

    Model answer

    A privatised natural monopoly may exploit consumers through high prices, and profit-seeking firms may neglect social objectives.

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