The privatisation of public utilities in Croatia: an assessment of the major gains and pains

The aim of the research on which this paper is based was to investigate, and where possible measure, the effects of policies of marketisation and privatisation of the telecommunication and the oil and gas industries in Croatia with respect to their business efficiency, management, employment levels, investment, service quality, diversity and prices. The paper questions whether the expected improvements in business performance actually occurred in the post-privatisation period and whether they improved consumer welfare. Both specialists and the wider public have opposing views about the changes which took place, and the paper therefore attempts to set out a considered analysis of the actual effects of the privatisation of these two public utilities in Croatia.