State-Owned Enterprises that Bite

Once, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were sold to repay foreign debts. Now, what are they good for?

October 2, 2001

What is wrong with SOEs? First, the attributes are unclear; second, the traits of family enterprise within them have evolved into big business, replete with corruption, collusion and nepotism—KKN. And worse still, the social mission it was supposed to pursue has now turned to raiding state coffers. In short, SOEs, once regarded as pillars of the business community, have declined so drastically that they could become sources of potential nat...

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