A Private Commodity or Public Good? A Comparative Case Study of Water and Sanitation Privatization in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993-2006

• Main Author: Steurer, Erin
• Format: Others
• Published: Scholar Commons 2008
• Subjects: Private sector; potable water; water supply; sanitation services; sewerage services; water policy; human rights; neo-liberalism; free market capitalism; American Studies; Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/515; https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1514&context=etd

The water privatization project in Buenos Aires, Argentina between 1993 and 2006 serves as the main case study in this investigation. The study begins by introducing background information on neo-liberalism and free market capitalism and their role in promoting private sector participation in the water supply and sanitation (WSS) services industry. A comparative case study analysis of the Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Dolphin Coast, and United Kingdom case studies has revealed that there are some key similarities between the case studies. In the conclusion, the key similarities are analyzed to make broader implications about the nature of private sector participation in the WSS services industry.