I assured them that our government was not going to be…
““I assured them that our government was not going to be ideological about this: if I was asked whether I was in favour of or against privatization, my answer would be, ‘It depends on the asset in question – a port, a railway, a beach, an electricity company?’ Beaches I would never sell, I told them, just as I would never sell the Parthenon. And the privatization of electricity grids reliably leads to environmentally and socially suboptimal outcomes. But when it came to ports and airports, I would form a view based on four criteria: how much the buyer was committing to invest in the asset; the buyer’s commitment to workers’ rights to union representation and decent wages and conditions; environmental standards; and the extent to which the buyer would be obliged to leave room for and encourage the benefit of small and medium local businesses.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He argues that privatization decisions should be based on investment, labor rights, environmental standards, and support for local businesses, not ideology.
In simple terms: Privatization must meet specific social and environmental criteria.
Key Takeaway
Assess assets against four criteria before privatizing.
Themes
economics
public policy
ethics
environment
labor
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
policy
argumentative
When to use this quote
- government contracts
- infrastructure projects
- energy sector
- transport hubs
Key Concepts
criteria-based decision making
social responsibility
public interest
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria are most critical for you?
- How to balance profit vs public good?
A Different Perspective
May overlook market efficiencies or political pressures.