Privatization remains a key policy focus as public officials grapple with deteriorating fiscal conditions, according to Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2008. With as many as 23 states potentially facing budget deficits in fiscal 2009, state governments are increasingly looking for ways to cut costs without cutting services. Enter the private sector.

"Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell recently accepted a $12.8 billion bid to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike, in what would be the biggest toll road privatization deal in U.S. history," said Leonard Gilroy, director of government reform at Reason Foundation and author of the report. "Florida has undertaken over 150 outsourcing initiatives since 2005. Leaders of all political stripes recognize privatization is a proven policy tool that can help save money and balance budgets."

The Reason Foundation report also singles out Chicago as a hotbed of local privatization under Democratic Mayor Richard Daley. Other topics explored in the report include airports, airport security, education, telecommunications, municipal broadband, water systems, and prisons.

Now in its 22nd year of publication, APR is the world's longest running and most comprehensive report on privatization news, developments, and trends. Given its broad policy coverage and depth of analysis on hot issues, there's something for everyone in APR 2008-policy makers, public officials, journalists, and citizens alike-to help them keep up with the fast-moving arenas of privatization, government reform, and private sector solutions to public sector challenges.

APR Table of Contents

» Download Full Report (2.7 Mb, .pdf) | High-Res Version (7.8 Mb, .pdf)  » Press Release

» Cover [.pdf]  » Authors [.pdf]  » Letter from the Editor [.pdf]  » Table of Contents [.pdf]  » Federal Update [.pdf]    » Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Update    » Competitive Sourcing Falls Short of Goals; OMB Blames Congress for        Limiting Initiative    » 2008 Farm Bill Expands Subsidies, Earmarks    » Senate to Privatize Its Ailing Restaurants  » State and Local Update [.pdf]    » State Privatization Update    » Local Privatization Update    » State Budget Outlook    » Rich States/Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index    » Occupational Licensing Reform in Arizona    » Competitive Bidding for Pharmacy Services in St. Louis County, MO  » Surface Transportation [.pdf]    » Overview: Infrastructure Finance    » National Commission Reports    » New PPP Toll Roads & Toll Lanes    » Leasing Existing Toll Roads    » Federal Concerns Over PPP Toll Roads    » International Toll Road Developments    » PPPs Give Leg Up to Global Competitors  » Air Transportation [.pdf]    » Airport Privatization    » U.S. Airport Security    » Air Traffic Control  » Education [.pdf]    » School Choice Increases through Bipartisan Efforts in 2008    » New 2008 School Choice Programs    » Existing School Choice Programs Expand in 2008    » Special Needs Scholarships Continue to Grow    » Charter Schools Enjoy Increasing Market Share    » 2008 Charter School Achievement Data    » Weighted Student Formula Expands in 2008    » More School Choice in Florida Improves Public Schools  » Emerging Issues [.pdf]    » Government Transparency Update    » State Lottery Privatization Update    » Ports Infrastructure —A New Frontier for Public-Private Ventures?  » Water & Wastewater [.pdf]    » Public Works Financing Issues 12th Annual Water Privatization Report    » Stockton Calls off Water Privatization Contract    » Eminent Domain Threatens Private Water Company Assets  » Telecommunications [.pdf]    » Cities Seek Alternatives To Municipal Ownership    » Video Franchise Reform Keeps Moving    » Growing Doubts About Network Neutrality    » Outlook for Internet Sales Taxes Still Murky  » Land Use and Environment [.pdf]    » Houston Land Use May Serve as Model for Future Land Regulation    » "Smart Growth" Planning Reducing Housing Affordability in Florida    » Property Rights Update    » Are Hydrogen Cars Good for America?    » The Environmental Costs of Hemp Prohibition  » Public Safety [.pdf]    » Pew Center Study Finds Rising National Prison Population    » Savings and Losses for Federal Detention Facilities    » State Private Corrections Update    » International Private Corrections Update    » CSI for Real: How to Improve Forensic Science

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Related Reason Research

» Innovators in Action 2007 Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and several other local and state officials demonstrate how governments can tackle bureaucracy, streamline operations and become more accountable to taxpayers in a new Reason Foundation publication, Innovators in Action.  » Annual Privatization Report 2006: Transforming Government Through Privatization  » APR 2006 Special Excerpt: Reflections from Pioneers in Government Reform (1.1 Mb | .pdf) The 20th Anniversary edition of Reason's Annual Privatization Report includes reflections from several privatization pioneers, including former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, former Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, Reason founder Robert Poole Jr., and more.  » Reason's Privatization Center  » Reason's Privatization and Government Reform Studies  » All Reason Policy Studies

Previous Annual Privatization Reports  » APR 2007  » APR 2006  » APR 2005  » APR 2004

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Credits

Editor

» Leonard C. Gilroy

Principal Authors

» Leonard C. Gilroy  » Amanda Kathryn Hydro  » Robert W. Poole, Jr.  » Anthony Randazzo  » Skaidra Smith-Heisters  » Lisa Snell  » Varna Sri Raman  » Samuel Staley  » Adam B. Summers  » Steven Titch

Contributing Authors

» William Korchinski is a chemical engineer who has spent his career working worldwide in the oil refining and chemical industries.  » Ken Orski is a transportation policy consultant and publisher of Innovation Briefs.  » David Stokes is a policy analyst at the Saint Louis-based Show-Me Institute.  » Jonathan Williams is the Director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force for the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Reason's Vice President of Research

» Adrian T. Moore

Media Contact

» Chris Mitchell     Director of Communications     Reason Foundation     (310) 367-6109

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