The politics of privatizations in Spain

Abstract

THIS PAPER ANALYZES THE DIFFERENT PATHS FOLLOWED BY PRIVATIZATIONS IN SPAIN, SINCE IN 1985 A MODEST PRIVATIZING PROCESS BEGINS. IT PUTS SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE INTENSIFICATION OF THE PRIVATIZING PROCESS AFTER THE ”POPULAR” PARTY WON THE ELECTIONS ON MARCH, 1996 AND THE APPROVAL, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OF AN EXPLICIT PROGRAM OF PRIVATIZATIONS WITH CLEAR TENDENCIES TOWARD GLOBALIZACION. SUCH A PROGRAM POINTS OUR THAT THE STATE SHOULD NOT BE THE DIRECT PROMOTER OF THE MANAGERIAL ACTIVITY THROUGH THE PUBLIC FIRM.