PSIRU researches the privatisation and restructuring of public services around the world, with special focus on water, energy, waste management, and healthcare. It produces reports and maintains an extensive database on the multinational companies involved. This core database is financed by Public Services International (PSI), the global confederation of public service trade unions.       

Occupational health regulations and health workers:protection or vulnerability? May 2008 Several trade agreements include occupational health and safety regulations but there are many barriers to implementation. Mechanisms for sanctions are often weak but the lack of political will is the biggest barrier.

Can nuclear power plants be built in Britain without public subsidies and guarantees? March 2008 This report examines the credibility of the claim by the UK government that nuclear power plants can be built in the UK without public subsidies and guarantees

Care Policies and Labour Markets March 2008 Changes in the nature of funding, in the care sector, are influencing the development of a social care labour market. Migration plays a role in ensuring the provision of care workers in many European countries.

Multinational care company expansion- major trends and eligibility for European Works Councils March 2008 In Europe, national policies, for the financing of care, have a strong influence on the type of care services provided by the private and not-for-profit sector. Since 2005, there is evidence of a slow expansion of some multinational care companies, into neighbouring countries.

Sewerage Works March 2008 Without sewers, more children die, and those who survive suffer in terms of physical growth and educational attainment. Donor policies and advice on sewers are wrong in three key respects. Sewers in cities are not optional extras but essential. Sewers need to be financed by taxation not user charges. And sewers in cities are affordable for most countries, many of whom are already investing in sewers in their cities. The aid neededis concentrated in a few countries, and this is affordable for rich countries.

European healthcare services and multinational companies Major trends and eligibility for European Works Councils February 2008 Multinational healthcare companies are increasingly involved in direct provision of healthcare services to the public sector and public ? private partnerships in Europe

Private equity and employment – the Davos/WEF/Harvard study February 2008 The World Economic Forum at Davos has published a major study showing that workplaces of firms taken over by private equity have 10% less employees 5 years after the takeover, than other similar workplaces. The rate of plant closures, opening, acquisitions and disposals is twice as high as in other firms, and the net effect is still a job loss of 3.6%-4.5% after only 2 years, compared with other firms. Firms taken over by private equity are also more likely to go bankrupt than publicly quoted firms.

Private equity: financial investors, public services, and employment February 2008 The report surveys the activity of private equity and other financial investors in the water, waste and healthcare sectors in Europe. It includes the appraisal of a WEF study on employment effects.

From a private past to a public future? - the problems of water in England and Wales February 2008 A critical review of the performance of the privatised water sector in England and Wales in relation to investment, efficiency, governance and other issues.

The future of the Turkish electricity industry November 2007 This report reviews the requirements being imposed on Turkey by the World Bank and the European Commission for the reform of its electricity industry

A critique of the European Commission’s Impact Assessment on the legislative package for electricity and gas November 2007 A review of the Commission's Impact Assessment for its proposed legislation on gas and electricity

Electricity companies in Latin America 2007 October 2007 This report surveys the multinational, local, and private equity companies involved in electricity supply in Latin America, and discusses some continuing issues, including compensation claims, and the role of public finance in restructuring and guaranteeing private sector activities, as well as renationalisations.

Water privatisation and restructuring in Latin America, 2007 September 2007 A detailed survey of developments in water in south America, including the retreat of the multinationals, the development of public sector alternatives, and persistent problems with compensation claims and development bank policies.

A critique of the European Commission’s evidence of the need for ownership unbundling of energy networks September 2007 A critique of the European Commission's evidence on the need for ownership unbundling of energy networks

Financing water in Northern Ireland - a critique and an alternative September 2007 A critique of the proposed corporatisation of water in Northern Ireland, identifying unnecessary costs including ?54m. costs of restructuring and ?48m. dividends, with alternative requiring no new charges.

Self-assessment or public debate? -evaluating the liberalisation of network services in the EU and USA September 2007 The public debate and increasing reversal of electricity liberalisation in the USA contrasts with the European Commission's failure to enable a similar debate in Europe or to acknowledge similar problems with the EU liberalisation directives.

Electricity Liberalization Experiences in the World August 2007 A review of electricity liberalisation: successes and failures; lessons and unresolved issues

Waste management companies in Europe 2007 August 2007 The paper reviews the international companies operating in the waste sector in Europe and recent trends in patterns of ownership, including private equity.

Unbundling of electricity transmission networks: Analysis of the European Commission’s position July 2007 This report examines the arguments for and against the proposals by the European Commission to require the ownership unbundling of energy networks

Investment in new power generation in New South Wales July 2007 This report comments on the prospects for new generation investment in New South Wales, in particular, what the role of the public sector should be

The South African Nuclear Power Programme: Submission to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism June 2007 This is a submission to the South African Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism for hearings held on June 20, 2007

The economics of nuclear power June 2007 A review of the economics of nuclear power and the status of the so-called nuclear renaissance

Unhappy returns to investors in private equity June 2007 Private equity firms take large profits through fees but do not deliver exceptional returns to investors such as pension funds. Publicised returns ignore many 'living dead' funds, and the impact on investors of the PE firms own fees.

The status of the Pebble Bed Modular reactor development programme June 2007 This report is an update on the status of the PBMR development programme

Methodological issues in estimating the impact of private equity buyouts on employment May 2007 Claims by private equity firms that they create employment are based on deeply flawed research, and are worthless as contributions to the debate.

Water companies in Europe 2007 April 2007 The paper reviews the international companies operating in the water sector in Europe and recent trends in patterns of ownership.

Public sector finance for investment in infrastructure - some recent developments April 2007 The public sector and public finance have a leading role in Brazil's new economic development plan. Other developments suggest a renewed interest in the role of the public sector.

The 2006 Reviews of the Electricity and Gas Directives March 2007 This report reviews the investigations by DG TREN and DG Competition into the electricity and gas markets of Europe

Corporate concentration in the EU energy sector March 2007 This report examines recent takeovers and mergers, and corporate policies in the European energy market

Water as a Public Service January 2007 A review of the history, economics and politics of public water services, including the role of capital finance, labour, and democratic participation.

Electrifying Africa January 2007 A review of the need for electricity in Africa, experiences of privatisation, and the political and economic potential for development through the public sector.

Evercare/ United Health Group briefing paper December 2006 The paper examines some of the issues raised by the recent involvement of Evercare, part of the US company, United Health Group, in a Department of Health (England) pilot initiative on the use of a case management approach to keep frail, older people out of hospital.

Private equity and infrastructure funds in public services and utilities November 2006 This paper discusses the extent and implications of the growth of private equity companies in public service and utility companies in Europe.

Общественные эффекты приватизации водоканалов November 2006 (in Russian) Social impacts of the privatisation of water supply enterprises in Russia.

Trade Unions and Reform of Public Utilities: International Perspective November 2006 An overview of international and EU experience with privatisation of relevance to Russia and other eastern European countries.

Анализ сервисных контрактов, заключенных с муниципальными унитарными предприятиями водопроводно-канализационного хозяйства в различных муниципальных образованиях России November 2006 (in Russian) Analysis of service contracts with municipal water enterprises in different municipalities of Russia.

Energy privatisation and reform in East Africa November 2006 A critical review of experiences with electricity privatisation and restructuring in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

Public-Public Partnerships as a catalyst for capacity building and institutional development: Lessons from Stockholm Vatten’s experience in the Baltic region October 2006 This report explores the developmental potential of Public-Public Partnerships in the water sector, in light of Stockholm Vatten's experience in Kaunas, Lithuania and Riga, Latvia.

Understanding European policy on the internal market for electricity and gas September 2006 This report examines the various inputs to the Electricity and Gas Directives reviews

Recent evidence on the impact of electricity liberalisation on consumer prices September 2006 This report reviews recent evidence on the impact of the Electricity Directive on prices

Water and electricity in Nigeria September 2006 The report reviews privatisation solutions promoted by the World Bank and the IFC, and critical responses to them.

The impact of public sector reforms on public sector workers May 2006 The paper presents some initial findings from a survey of public sector workers, in a number of countries in Europe, Africa, North America, Latin America and Asia, and how they have been affected by policies of liberalisation in relation to wages, working conditions and other forms of socio-economic security.

Trade unions, civil society organisations and health reforms April 2006 The paper examines a series of health sector trade union campaigns in El Salvador, South Africa, Spain and the UK that have actively involved civil society groups.

Public policies, environmental health, sustainability and social inclusion in developed countries April 2006 The paper discusses the range of public policies, concerned with environment health, sustainability and social inclusion, recently introduced by governments in developed countries.

Trade unions,civil society organisations and health reforms April 2006 The paper examines a series of health sector trade union campaigns in El Salvador, South Africa, Spain and the UK that have actively involved civil society groups.

Evaluating network services in Europe March 2006 A critique of the EC evaluation of network industries and the Copenhagen economics report on the impact of liberalisation.

Pipe Dreams - failure of the private sector to invest in water March 2006 The report examines the empirical evidence on the numbers of new connections to water supply resulting from investment by private sector water companies in developing countries.

Aquafed - another pressure group for private water March 2006 An analysis of the new private water lobby group, Aquafed, and the other forms of lobbying and pressure used by the private water companies.

Electricity Reform Experiences in Asia, Pacific Region, GATS and Privatisation of the Industry March 2006 This paper examines the package of reforms often applied to the electricity industry and discusses its relevance to Sri Lanka. It examines experience in other Asian countries with these reforms. It also looks at the status of GATS in the electricity sector

GATS and the Electricity and Water Sectors March 2006 This paper discusses the impact of the GATS agreement of the World Trade Organisation on the electricity and water sectors.

Waste management companies in Europe February 2006 Trends in ownership and potential impact of EU waste directives

EU Neighbourhood policy: implications for public services and trade unions January 2006 The EU Neighbourhood policy creates pressures to liberalise and privatise public services. It affects 17 countries in North Africa, the Middle East and former Soviet Union.

The economic risk to electricity consumers of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor January 2006 Evidence presented to the South African electricity regulator on the potential impact of the PBMR on consumer electricity prices

A global review of multinational corporations in the water and electricity sectors January 2006 The strategies, activites and retreats of multinational corporations in the water and electricity sectors

Aid and trade in water and electricity in Tsunami-affected countries: India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand December 2005 In the four countries most affected by the tsunami - India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, multinational companies have been pursuing lawsuits to claim compensation for failed private projects in water and electricity - compensation which could cost the countries more than the official aid for the Tsunami emergency from the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, the European Union, and China combined . Despite strong public opposition, the World Bank and other donors continue to promote privatisation in both water and electricity in these countries.

The European Union Gas and Electricity Directives October 2005 This report examines experience of the EU's electricity and gas directives in th major EU member states and contributes to the assessment of the Directives that the Commission must carry out in 2006

The relative efficiency of public and private sector water October 2005 A range of empirical evidence now shows that there is no systematic significant difference between public and private operators in terms of efficiency or other performance measures. Due to the unsupported assumption that private companies are more efficient, policies have become seriously imbalanced.

The Economics of Nuclear Power: analysis of recent studies September 2005 This report identifies the key determinants of nuclear power costs, and reviews recent studies on nuclear power economics.

State Aid and Public Services in Europe September 2005 This critique of the EC 2005 proposals on state aid and the implications for public services presents the historical and legal context, their impact on the expansion of private sector activity in the market for public services, a critical analysis of the proposals, and a discussion contrasting the route of encouraging competitive tendering with the possibility of exempting public services operating in the general interest.

Electricity privatisation and restructuring in Latin America and the impact on workers, 2005 September 2005 The process of electricity privatisation and liberalisation in Latin America has led to loss of jobs, insecurity of employment, and worse conditions for electricity workers. Outsourcing has been a major problem. It has also contributed to a number of social and economic problems, including problems of price levels, reliability, and government guarantees.

The Economic Impact of the Proposed Demonstration Plant for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Design August 2005 This report examines the history of the South African Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, a new design of nuclear power plant. It illustrates the serious delays in developing the design and the huge increases in cost of the technology.

Public resistance to privatisation in water and energy June 2005 The process of privatisation in water and energy has proved widely unpopular and encountered strong political opposition. This paper examines the role of this opposition in delaying, cancelling, or reversing the privatisation of water and energy. Development in Practice, Volume 15, Numbers 3 & 4, June 2005.

Public- public partnerships in health and essential services May 2005 This review paper was commissioned jointly by the Southern African Regional Network on Equity in Health (EQUINET) and the Municipal Services Project (MSP) to gather information to act as a baseline ?concept paper? for additional research by the MSP and EQUINET. It aims to provide information on the state of research on ?public-public partnerships? (PuPs), an analysis of the conceptual and logistical framework of PuPs that have been implemented, and a discussion of the lessons to be learned from PuPs in southern Africa and elsewhere.

Evaluating the impact of liberalisation on public services March 2005 A critique of the European Commission's 2004 Horizontal Evaluation Report's conclusions and analysis, and a set of proposals for a better way of evaluating Services of General Economic Interest across Europe.

New South Wales Government Energy Directions Green Paper: Comments by PSIRU February 2005 A critique of the New South Wales Government's 2004 Green Paper on energy policy

Care Services in Europe February 2005 Analysis of care policies, provision by companies in Europe and effect of policy changes on care workers

Electricity privatisation and restructuring in Russia and Ukraine January 2005 This report examines reforms to the electricity and gas industries in Russia and Ukraine

Privatisation and restructuring of water supply in Russia and Ukraine January 2005 Examines the problems and policy issues in the water sector on Russia and Ukraine, the experiences with privatisation and reform so far, the activities of international institutions, and of multinational and Russian companies in the water sector.

The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority December 2004 This report examines the projected task and funding of the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which will formally take over the UK's nuclear liabilities on April 1 2005

Private and public interests in water and energy December 2004 Article in Natural Resources Forum 28 (2004) 268?277 November 2004 on social risks of privatisation of water and energy. Based on empirical evidence from developed, transition and developing countries, the article looks at how the introduction of private operators? interests into the water supply/sanitation and energy sectors may conflict with public interests in socioeconomic, environmental and political dimensions.

Electricity privatisation and restructuring in Asia-Pacific December 2004 Overview of privatisation, liberalisation and restructuring of electricity in Asia-Pacific, including survey of multinational and regional companies.

Changing healthcare systems in Asia December 2004 Outline of key changes in healthcare systems in Asia including company developments and trade union action

Water privatisation and restructuring in Asia-Pacific December 2004 Overview of privatisation, liberalisation and restructuring of water in Asia-Pacific, including survey of multinational and regional companies.

Making water privatisation illegal: - new laws in Netherlands and Uruguay November 2004 Both Uruguay and Netherlands are legislating to make privatisation of water illegal. This report describes the processes and discusses the context of international laws.

Contribution of Services of General Interest to Economic Social and Territorial Cohesion November 2004 Final report of CIRIEC project for the European Commission's DG Regio, evaluating the contribution of network services in the EU to cohesion. Sectors covered include air, rail and local public transport; electricity and gas; postal services and telecommunications.

Electricity industry reforms in smaller EU countries: Experience from the Nordic region October 2004 This report reviews reforms to the electricity sector in the Nordic countries, explains the apparent success so far and explores whether this success can be sustained.

Electricity liberalisation: The beginning of the end September 2004 The debate is beginning to shift a little on electricity liberalisation and privatisation, but there are many vested interests that will continue to promote the idea.

The Ontario Government’s proposals on electricity restructuring: Comments by Public Services International Research Unit August 2004 This report is a critique of the Ontario government's plans to reform its electricity industry

La electricidad en América Latina, 2004 July 2004 Este documento tiene el prop?o de exponer las actividades de las EMN en servicios privados de electricidad de Am?ca Latina, y al mismo tiempo definir algunos de los problemas clave que afectan el desarrollo del sector. El documento acompa?l panorama general elaborado por la PSIRU de la privatizaci? liberalizaci?n todo el mundo.

Electricity in Latin America, 2004 July 2004 The paper aims to present the activities of the multinational companies in privatised electricity operations in Latin America, and to identify some of the key issues which affect the development of the sector. It covers the multinationals, with brief information on their origins and their current policies towards Latin America where known. It also lists the multinationals which have formerly invested in Latin America but have now left. The paper looks at key issues and trends, including the development of the policies of the governments of Argentina and Brazil; the scale of resistance to privatisation in Latin America, and the new statements of position from the IMF and the World Bank.

PPPs: a critique of the EC Green Paper July 2004 A critique of the European Commission's 2004 Green Paper on PPPs, as well of the European Commission's approach to PPPs.

Privatising other people's water - the contradictory policies of Netherlands, Norway and Sweden July 2004 The Nordic countries, including Norway and Sweden, are famous for their strong welfare state and public services. Stockholm?s public sector water company hosts the world?s leading annual conference of water, in a week that celebrates its achievement of cleaning the waters of Stockholm harbour. The Netherlands is equally famous for its water services, managed and financed through a network of public authorities, banks and managements. In all three countries, not surprisingly, there has been almost universal resistance to the idea of allowing private water companies to run this public service ? in the Netherlands, a proposed law to make private sector water supply illegal has received backing from nearly all parties. Yet in all three countries, the agencies responsible for aid to developing countries are financing and supporting programmes that are promoting water privatization in developing countries. This paper presents the details of these aid policies, and discusses the problems raised by the policies themselves and the contradictions with their domestic water supply policies.

Experience with liberalisation and privatisation of electricity April 2004 A review of electricity privatisation submitted as evidence to the Constitutional Counrt of Indonesia 22nd April 2004.

The British Model in Britain: Failing slowly March 2004 In 1990, Britain became the first developed country to reorganise its electricity industry to run on competitive lines. The British reforms are widely regarded as the benchmark for other reforms and the model used provides the basis for reforms of electricity and other network industries around the world. The factors behind this perception of success are major reductions in the real price of electricity with no apparent reduction in service quality. This paper examines whether the high reputation of the British reforms is justified and whether these good results can be maintained. It concludes that the reputation is not justified and that serious problems are beginning to emerge. The central question that must be asked is: have the British reforms resulted in the creation of efficient markets at the wholesale and retail level? On this criterion, the reforms have failed. The wholesale market remains illusory. Obscure long-term contracts, privileged access to the market and self-dealing within integrated generator/retailers have dominated wholesale purchases leaving the spot markets with minimal liquidity and unreliable prices. The failure to develop an efficient wholesale market places the onus on consumers to impose competitive forces on electricity companies by switching regularly. Small consumers will not do this and they are paying too much for their power. For the future, there is a serious risk that the electricity industry will become a weakly regulated oligopoly with a veneer of competition.

The Future of Research and Development in the UK Gas Industry March 2004 A review of the need for publicly funded research in a privatised gas industry.

Dogmatic Development: annexes February 2004

Dogmatic Development: Privatisation and conditionalities in six countries February 2004 This report looks at how conditionalities and pressures from aid agencies and development banks force developing countries to adopt privatisation policies in public services. It focuses specifically on the sectors of water, electricity, and healthcare, in six countries: Colombia; El Salvador; Indonesia; Mozambique; South Africa; and Sri Lanka. It examines the impact of the requirements and policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), and other agencies including regional development banks, the European Commission (EC) and donor countries. It includes a specific examination of the various ways in which the UK?s Department for International Development (DFID) supports privatisation in these services. It concludes that the pressures for privatisation have been strengthened through new structures of ?globalised aid?; that they create serious limitations on independent decision-making by developing countries, and generate some strong political responses; and that policies of development banks and donor agencies, including DFID, should be reviewed to remove such pressures and ensure that policy-making in developing countries is determined by local democratic processes.

European Works Councils and the healthcare sector February 2004 Profiles of healthcare companies with European Works Councils and some eligible companies

Water finance - a discussion note January 2004 This paper examines issues of financing water supply and sanitation systems, including: - A critique of the ?top down? approach to water finance of the World Bank, the Camdessus report, and the water multinationals - Proposing a different approach, based on a participatory, ?bottom up?, local assessment of needs, and of the best means available for fulfilling them - A discussion of different methods of raising investment finance for publicly run water systems It does not attempt to identify a single best method of financing, but to indicate some of the possibilities which are available, together with actual examples of these options in practice.

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