privatisation
Meaning: The transfer of ownership of a business, industry, or service from the public sector (government) to the private sector.
Privatisation was a central policy of the Thatcher government in 1980s Britain, with state-owned industries like British Telecom, British Gas, and British Rail being sold to private investors. Supporters argue it increases efficiency and reduces the burden on taxpayers; opponents say it leads to profit being prioritised over public service. The verb form is 'privatise.'
Examples
- The privatisation of the railways remains one of the most controversial policy decisions of the 1990s. 铁路的私有化仍然是1990年代最具争议的政策决定之一。La privatización de los ferrocarriles sigue siendo una de las decisiones políticas más controvertidas de los años noventa.鉄道の民営化は1990年代で最も議論を呼んだ政策決定の一つであり続けている。철도의 민영화는 1990년대에서 가장 논란이 많았던 정책 결정 중 하나로 남아 있다.
- The government is considering the privatisation of several public services to reduce the budget deficit. 政府正在考虑将数项公共服务私有化以减少财政赤字。El gobierno estudia la privatización de varios servicios públicos para reducir el déficit presupuestario.政府は財政赤字を削減するため、いくつかの公共サービスの民営化を検討している。정부는 재정 적자를 줄이기 위해 여러 공공 서비스의 민영화를 검토하고 있다.
- Critics argue that privatisation has led to higher prices and poorer service quality. 批评者认为私有化导致了更高的价格和更差的服务质量。Los críticos sostienen que la privatización ha provocado precios más altos y peor calidad de servicio.批判者は民営化が価格の上昇とサービスの質の低下をもたらしたと主張している。비판론자들은 민영화가 가격 상승과 서비스 질 저하를 초래했다고 주장한다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: professional, media, academic
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From private (from Latin privatus, personal, withdrawn from public life) + -isation. The term became widely used in the 1970s-80s, particularly in British political discourse.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from General Advanced
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free