The private provision of public services in developing countries

This book has shown that the role of the private sector is pervasive in the provision of services in developing countries. The examples given are but a small part of the tip of a very large iceberg. This is particularly the case in education, health, and urban transport sectors, where private services have been provided in all societies from the earliest times. There are fewer examples in the electricity and telecommunications sectors, because they are of comparatively recent origin. Of all the areas studied, piped water and sewerage systems seem to be the ones in which the private sector is least involved.