Public Enterprise Sector and Development: Lessons from International Experience
Improving the performance of the public enterprise sector is critical for continued development, since it already accounts for a large share in domestic capital formation, industrial investment, and output in most developing countries. Unlike in the past, net resource inflows into less developed countries will cease, if not reverse, because of interest payment and debt repayments. International experience shows that for public enterprises to perform as effective and efficient instruments of development certain preconditions have to be fulfilled. Dr Bhatt describes in this “Perspectives” piece what these are and what decision-making and learning mechanisms have to be institutionalized in the political and administrative apparatus to meet the challenge of continued development in the difficult environment ahead.