Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Queensland, 2006 / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (M. Hous. M.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-66). Also available on the World Wide Web.

This paper investigates the role of foreign competition and regional unemployment in influencing privatization policy for domestic firms. With a general model specifying the existence of foreign competition and regional unemployment, we find a negative relationship between presence of foreign competition and state ownership of the domestic firm within the same sector. We also find a positive relationship between unemployment rate in a region and state ownership of the domestic firm in the same region. Econometric analysis for China supports the theoretical findings.

Magister Commercii - MCom / Privatization has become a central feature of the economic policies of nations in the developed and developing world. Eritrea has also embarked on a privatisation program for the state-owned enterprises. It privatised 39 manufacturing enterprises from 1997-2001 in the hope that the enterprises might be restructured into more efficient, profitable, competent and value creating private enterprises. This thesis assessed the impact of privatisation on the operating efficiency, profitability, employment, wages and tax payment of the Eritrean newly privatised manufacturing enterprises. / South Africa

No abstract available / Economics / M. Comm. (Economics)

Inequities in education have long been the driving force behind school reform movements. In efforts to desegregate schools and offer more equitable education opportunities, more privatized and marketized school systems have emerged. This movement has been referred to as neoliberalism. This term encompasses the individual’s right to make school selections based on their personal preferences or desires. Current school choice research suggests parents seek schools with better resources or curriculum, desire the social connections certain schools can offer them, or select schools based on right fit for their families. Neoliberals argue that schools will be reformed or transformed as a result of changing to meet the needs of their customers. They believe competitive school markets will lead to better education systems. However, outcomes of choice movements have been inconsistent and have not demonstrated that choice has impacted achievement or addressed educational disparities. Some argue that it has further segregated schools and has led to greater inequities, particularly for minority or disadvantaged students. Furthermore, the research suggests that access may be facilitated or hindered by an individual’s cultural or social capital. Conversely, the research on student mobility suggests that minority and disadvantaged student populations are often highly mobile students. Frequent school moves for these student groups are detrimental to their academic success and can affect their school experience on multiple levels. The result is two opposing views on how to best ensure student achievement. One view encourages movement, the other does not. This study examined the use of open-enrollment in highly-mobile, high poverty schools. The findings suggest that a connection between student mobility and use of open-enrollment exists. Additionally, the findings revealed that barriers continue to hinder true choice access and motivations for school choice differs in parents at high-poverty, high-mobility schools. The parents in this study did not exercise choice to improve academic outcomes. This is counter to the intent of school choice. Factors such as safety, happiness and relationships were more valued and sought. Moreover, school movement was often prompted by negative events resulting in situational movement. In these instances, open enrollment was utilized to facilitate a reactionary response instead of being utilized to improve achievement outcomes. Based on the results of this study, an evaluation of current school choice practices, legislation and funding may be necessary to ensure the future success of students when exercising choice opportunities.

M.Comm. / Soos reeds vermeld bring die afkondiging op 14 Februarie 1991 van regulasie 265 in Goewennentskennisgewing no. 125 van die Wet mee dat registrasie-owerheidsbeheerde toetsstasies hul vir die eerste keer sedert 1931 in mededinging met die privaat sektor bevind. 6 Die probleemstelling in die onderhawige studie is of die JMVT in die huidige konteks mededingend en lewensvatbaar kan bly, inaggenome die skerp daling in die volume voertuie wat ondersoek word met 'n gepaardgaande verlies aan inkomste. Verder watter strategiese stappe geneem of aksies ingestel moet word om dit mededingend te maak en of privatisering as 'n strategiese alternatief vir die JMVT oorweeg behoort te word. Indien wel, watter vorm van privatisering sal die geskikste wees, gegewe deregulerende wetgewing wat reeds in werking getree het. Die doel van die studie is om 'n aantal strategiese aksies te identifiseer wat die JMVT onmiddellik en oor die lang termyn moet ondemeem om te verseker dat dit in 'n gedereguleerde omgewing sal kan meeding en lewensvatbaar sal bly. Uit die strategiese aksies wat geidentifiseer word, sal die aksie wat die grootste moontlike voordeel vir die Stadsraad inhou, geselekteer word en sal die lewensvatbaarheid van sodanige aksies ondersoek word.

In the first chapter, this thesis exemines the legal, political and economic foundations of the liberal state. Drawing upon the works of Hobbes, Locke, Hume and Rousseau the first chapter focuses upon how the idea of natural "good" was replaced by a political "right" manifested through the law. In chapter one, the thesis criticises neo-liberalism and corporate theory in their attempts to strip nature of all intrinsic values except self-preservation. In the context of neo-liberal domination, the first chapter further argues that the legal and political foundations of the liberal state have been miscast. It defends reform liberalism against criticisms and attacks the assumption common to such criticisms that the landscape of liberalism is barren ethically. From this perspective, the second chapter injects competing neo-liberal and reform-liberal ideas into debates about the role of the state and systems of governance in, what is claimed to be, the globalized world. Troubled as the years of nationhood have been, the thesis suggests that it is misleading to summarize contemporary transformations in legal, political and economic systems under the term "globalization". The changes in the global order do not imply the withering away of the nation-state, but rather suggest a re-interpretation and transformation of its role. Besides the nation-state, macro-regional and local entities are emerging as the new sources of political, legal and economic identity. In the third chapter, the thesis explores the nature, content and legal aspects of privatization as the dominant and hugely misused tool of liberal policy. The thesis discusses the analytical framework of the term "privatization" and suggests that privatization may not be regarded exclusively as an economic process but rather should be seen as a policy tool with political, legal, economic and ethical repercussions. In chapter three, the thesis further suggests an elusive line between public and private ownership and argues that the state has direct or indirect rights in practically every economic activity under its jurisdiction, whether undertaken by individuals or public authorities. Our demand for democratization and "liberalization" of liberalism should not be devoted only to the improvement of economic efficiency and the empowerment of private ownership, but rather to the affirmation of the public sphere and changes in the structures of power. The thesis approaches ideology, government and ownership from a theoretical perspective that sees law as a constitutive part of the political, social and economic field. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

M.Comm.