Abstract
Within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a common feature of corporate financial structures is that governments have always been majority owners of many commercial companies. This chapter provides a detailed picture of state ownership in the region. It finds evidence of a decline in the privatization effort in the 2000s. Privatization may be important for the development of institutional ownership, yet, in some cases, it may not be in the best interests of the public, when cronyism is prevalent. In this context, it is important to understand the role of the state in the growth of capital markets in the region, and the efficiency of the overall development model.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have