Ask the Right Questions Before Privatizing

Too often, public officials propose the privatization of public facilities, public goods, or contracting out vital public services, without getting the basic information that decision-makers and voters need to know to evaluate these transactions. By asking a handful of simple questions before finalizing any privatization decisions, officials can make acquire information that will help them (as well as the media and the public) analyze these deals to understand their impact on the public. These questions include: Does the contract limit our democratic rights?: Are there perverse incentives that could work against our public policy goals?; and Will all the outsourced jobs have health care benefits?