Difference between privatization and liberalization
Answers
Answer: Privatization is the transfer of control of ownership of economic resources from the public sector to the private sector. It means a decline in the role of the public sector as there is a shift in the property rights from the state to private ownership. The public sector had been experiencing various problems , since planning, such as low efficiency and profitability, mounting losses, excessive political interference, lack of autonomy, labor problems and delays in completion of projects. Hence to remedy this situation the 1991 privatization was initiated into the Indian economy. Another term for privatization is Disinvestment. The objectives of disinvestment were to raise resources through sale of PSUs(Public Sector Undertaking) to be directed towards social welfare expenditures, raising efficiency of PSUs through increased competition, increasing consumer satisfaction with better quality goods and services, upgrading technology and most importantly removing political interference.
Liberalization means elimination of state control over economic activities. It implies greater autonomy to the business enterprises in decision-making and removal of government interference. It was believed that the market forces of demand and supply would automatically operate to bring about greater efficiency and the economy would recover. This was to be done internally by introducing reforms in the real and financial sectors of the economy and externally by relaxing state control on foreign investments and trade.