Privatization in Practice: Reports on Trends, Cases and Debates in Public Service by Business and Nonprofits

Cost efficiency was the initial goal of privatization--achieved in many cases but not consistently. Public services provided by the private sector were cheap in the beginning but became increasingly expensive, especially to low-income citizens. The lessons learned from early successes and failures gave birth to a new goal--effectiveness of services, as measured by accountable results. Government officials are not looking just for proven budget savings; they must also be concerned with the quality of public services and ultimately the happiness of citizens and communities. In its updated second edition, this collection of essays explores the good and the bad sides of privatization. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Part I. Trends and Practices 1. Private Delivery of Public Services, 20 Years On delete(John Carroll) 2. Public, Private or Nonprofit Providers delete(Alicia Schatteman) 3. Time for the Plural Sector delete(Henry Mintzberg) 4. Public Interest Partnerships delete(Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III) 5. Contemplating Collaboration delete(David Swindell and Cheryll Hilvert) 6. Shared Services and ­Cost-Saving Collaboration delete(Monte Mercer) 7. Strategies for Contract Selection delete(Cathy Lazarus and Ted Volskay) 8. Contracting for Performance delete(Amanda M. Girth and Jocelyn M. Johnston) 9. Contract Management in Contract City delete(Jonas Prager and John Flint) 10. P3 Structures and Arrangements delete(Justin Marlowe, William Rivenbark, and A. John Vogt) 11. Recovery Budgeting and ­Public-Private Partnerships delete(Amy Davis) 12. Third-Party Agreements delete(Bob Bland) 13. Innovation in Public Management delete(Katy Singlaub) 14. Managed Competition: Ten Years of Progress delete(Tom Guilfoy) 15. Unloading Assets delete(Christopher Swope) Part II. Cases and Applications 16. Got Nightlife? delete(Jim Peters and Alicia Scholer) 17. Business Improvement Districts delete(Lawrence Houstoun) 18. Help Businesses, Shop Local delete(Ken Pulskamp) 19. Love at First Site delete(Jennifer Grzeskowiak) 20. The Station at Potomac Yard delete(Helen S. McIlvaine) 21. Somber Spots and Bright Spots delete(Craig Chavez) 22. The Park That Paid Off delete(Greg Beato) 23. Mission: Green delete(Ed Brock) 24. The Green Standard delete(Connie Kuranko) 25. Solar Communities delete(Anna Read) 26. Privatization of Waste Water Treatment Plant delete(Ted Volskay) 27. Enterprise-Wide Computerized Work and Asset Management System (Steve Klepper and City Manager’s Office Team) 28. Private Works delete(Robert Barkin) 29. Why ­Wi-Fi? Why Not? delete(Kevin Fitchard) 30. Examining Parking Privatization as a Fiscal Solution delete(David Taxman) 31. Determining the Role of P3: Building Inspections delete(Kyle Steitz) 32. Arts Mean Economic Revitalization delete(Robert Lynch) 33. Retirees: A New Economic Development Strategy delete(Christen Smith) 34. Social Impact of Bonds to Fund Human Services delete(Charles Taylor) 35. Public Library Privatization delete(Muriel Strand) 36. Does Government Work Require Government Employees? delete(John Buntin) 37. Is Public Safety Exempt from Managed Competition? delete(Tom Guilfoy) 38. Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Education delete(Frank Woodward) Part III. Discussions and Debates 39. Privatization, Efficiency and the Public Interest delete(Michael Abels) 40. Large Questions delete(Paul Farmer) 41. Contracting Issues delete(Institute for Local Government) 42. Putting Public Safety in Private Hands delete(Dennis Compton) 43. Privatization of Medicare delete(John Geyman) 44. Perils of Privatization delete(Ann Hagedorn) 45. Arguments For and Risks of Privatization delete(Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Class of 2008) 46. Wows and Woes of ­Public-Private Partnerships delete(Rachel Burstein and Edward Shikada) 47. Pros and Cons of Privatizing Government Functions delete(Russell Nichols) 48. Benefits and Downsides of Privatizing Municipal Services delete(Stephanie Rozsa and Caitlin Geary) 49. Public Policy and Privatization: Claims and Concerns delete(Nora Leech) 50. Local Governments Scramble for Budget Solutions delete(Christine Smith and Shelley Fulla) 51. Prudent Privatization delete(Stephen Goldsmith )214 Appendices I. Privatization Glossary from the League of Women Voters II. Managed Competition Guidelines from Washoe County, Nevada III. League of Women Voters Privatization Position IV. International City/County Management Association Steps to Effective Privatization About the Editors and Contributors Index

About the Author :
Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III, Ph.D., is vice provost for global affairs as well as chair and Mayor George Christopher Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University. He founded GGU’s law enforcement and security program and is a San Francisco advocate for the safety and security of Filipino American kids and their families. Roger L. Kemp, Ph.D., ICMA-CM, has been a city manager on both the East and West coasts for more than 25 years. He is presently Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Golden Gate University and a Fellow of The Academy of Political Science.

Review :
“Gonzalez and Kemp compiled an easy-to-read privatization handbook for citizens and communities.”—Jossie Alegre, Senior Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; “A must read for the astute public servant.”—Ian Kaiser, City Manager, City of Rocky Ford, Colorado; “Gonzalez and Kemp have assembled a superb collection of informative, up-to-date, highly readable chapters on the delivery of public services by business firms and nonprofit organizations. The volume is conveniently divided into Parts on trends and developments, often-critical discussions and essays, and two dozen lively cases. You will want to have this volume on your bookshelf.”— J. Steven Ott, PhD, Professor, University of Utah; “An excellent how-to guide for business and nonprofit contractors.”—Terry Curl, DPA, Chicago Bridge and Iron senior engineering consultant and former assistant city manager; “Gonzalez and Kemp have put together a highly accessible collection of real-world examples and discussions surrounding the provision of public services by organizations in the private and nonprofit sectors. The volume provides an excellent mix of case studies and thought provoking commentary on the privatization of public services that serves as an excellent resource for researchers and practitioners alike.”—Jesse Levin, PhD, Principal Economist, American Institutes for Research; Reviews of the first edition: “excellent”—Choice; “guidelines, examples, and precautions are outlined”—American Libraries