Privatization and the Sale of Tax Revenues

74 Pages Posted: 7 Jul 2011

See all articles by Julie Roin

Julie Roin

University of Chicago Law School

Date Written: July 6, 2011

Abstract

Although there is a large literature exploring the advantages and drawbacks of the privatization of governmental activities, most of this work fails to confront the issues raised by the newest wave of privatization transactions. These transactions are motivated less by the possibility of achieving efficiency advantages than by politicians’ desires to borrow money surreptitiously. Using the example of the City of Chicago’s recent “sale” of its parking meter system - which is to say the future revenues and operation of pay-for-on-street parking - the analysis shows why such transactions should be viewed as a particularly noxious form of governmental debt. The discussion then explores possible legal rules designed to curtail such debt, masquerading as privatization, in the future.

Keywords: State debt, local debt, local debt limitations, state debt limitations, privatization, leases, transparency

Suggested Citation

Roin, Julie, Privatization and the Sale of Tax Revenues (July 6, 2011). Minnesota Law Review, Vol. 85, p. 1965, 2011, U of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 560, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1880033

Julie Roin (Contact Author)

University of Chicago Law School ( email )

1111 E. 60th St.
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-702-5314 (Phone)

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
360
Abstract Views
6,008
Rank
168,022
PlumX Metrics