Figure Watch

Advantage sell-off

While Indian consumers are yet to benefit from the government8217;s policy on privatisation, examples abound of how the process benefits consumers. A few telling examples are presented in Privatisation, Competition and Regulation in the United Kingdom8217;, a book by G. Ganesh, member secretary of the Public Sector Divestment Commission. United Kingdom has benefitted immensely from its privatisation programme. The privatised enterprises have proved to be profitable and the annual rate of return has increased in most cases. Ganesh demonstrates how the prices of utility services have come down sharply for the consumers in UK, quoting the examples of British Telecom, British Gas and electricity.