<p>Yes, there are lots. Several state-owned energy companies succeed in international competitive markets, for example.</p>

<p>EDF is majority-owned by the French State, and is a successful competitor in energy markets in other countries; e.g. GB electricity retail.</p>

<p>DONG is majority-owned by the Danish State, and is a successful competitor in energy markets in other countries; e.g. UK offshore windfarm installation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-15T21:39:37.963Z
2017-03-15T21:39:37.963Z
410 gone
<p>In a debate concerning long term economic strategy, a representative of a left party was trying to support that privatisation and <em>Small Government</em> which minimizes its own activities is not a viable direction in a Global Economy, i.e. it will lead to a further <em>loss of sovereignty</em> in a sense that a country applies its policies mostly via the public sector, which if minimized will have insignificant impact. Then the opponent asked a simple, but intriguing question:</p>

<p><em>"Is there an example where a government owned company<sup>1</sup> has a product that is competitive with a product of a private company?"</em></p>

<p>After a brief research I really couldn't find such example. Is there such an example and if not, what counter argument there could be presented against the above question? </p>

<hr>

<p><sup>1. Without the trivial and most frequent example of a monopoly.</sup></p>

<competition><productivity>
Government Ownership vs Private Ownership
Ziezi
# Government Ownership vs Private Ownership

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-15)

In a debate concerning long term economic strategy, a representative of a left party was trying to support that privatisation and *Small Government* which minimizes its own activities is not a viable direction in a Global Economy, i.e. it will lead to a further *loss of sovereignty* in a sense that a country applies its policies mostly via the public sector, which if minimized will have insignificant impact. Then the opponent asked a simple, but intriguing question:

*"Is there an example where a government owned company1 has a product that is competitive with a product of a private company?"*

After a brief research I really couldn't find such example. Is there such an example and if not, what counter argument there could be presented against the above question?

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1. Without the trivial and most frequent example of a monopoly.

**Tags:** competition, productivity


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-03-15. Score: 1

Yes, there are lots. Several state-owned energy companies succeed in international competitive markets, for example.

EDF is majority-owned by the French State, and is a successful competitor in energy markets in other countries; e.g. GB electricity retail.

DONG is majority-owned by the Danish State, and is a successful competitor in energy markets in other countries; e.g. UK offshore windfarm installation.


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