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Contracting-Out
Contracting-out refers to the practice of outsourcing certain functions or services to private companies, rather than having them performed by the government or public sector.
Some examples of contracting-out in the UK economy include:
- Outsourcing of public services: Many local and national government services, such as garbage collection, street cleaning, and parks maintenance, are now contracted out to private companies.
- Private finance initiatives (PFI): This is a method of funding public infrastructure projects, such as building new schools and hospitals, by having private companies design, build, and maintain the facilities, while the government pays for the services over a long-term period.
- Outsourcing of government IT services: Many government departments and agencies outsource their IT services, such as software development and data management, to private companies.
- Outsourcing of public transportation: Many public transportation services, such as buses and trains, are now operated by private companies under contract to the government.
- Outsourcing of security services: Private security companies are often contracted to provide security services for government buildings, public events, and other high-security areas.
- Outsourcing of maintenance services: Private companies are contracted to perform maintenance services for public facilities and buildings, such as schools and hospitals.
- Outsourcing of call centers: Some government agencies outsource their customer service functions, such as call centers, to private companies.
- Outsourcing of cleaning services: Cleaning services for government buildings and public areas are often contracted out to private companies.
These are just a few examples of how contracting-out is widely used in the UK economy, it can be used in a wide range of services and sectors, and it can have different forms and different levels of government involvement.
See also
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3.6.1 Competitive Tendering (Edexcel A-Level Economics Teaching PowerPoint)
Teaching PowerPoints
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Contracting-Out - Examples in the UK
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