Mudball
Assistant Pro
For me services only work well in the private sector where there is true competition and the public are able to change supplier relatively regularly and without hastle.
i am assuming u r over generalising.. agree that services work if there is competition, but i guess it is dependent on the sector. Would we like NHS to be privatised.. i am assuming not. However, those can afford it are jumping the queue by going private.
Would i like to see the return of nationalisation in every service - probably not. While Southwestern trains are ridiculed, they have done a much better job than most franchises. I would not like to see the return of slammer door trains or buses on tracks. So yes privatisation has helped, but not in every service.
IMHO, privatisation works provided you define the boundaries and set the KPIs accordingly. Otherwise, private operaters can turn into private equity type operations that strip off the asset and then the govt becomes the operator of the last resort. Equally, Govt (irrespective of the party) can step in and define a good service and deliver it. Equally it needs to invest in the people and their careers,, give good working conditions and decent pay.
Any idea how the Germans, Japanese or Nordic countries run their effiicent and clean train service?