First published in 1981, this edited collection reviews the operations of state-owned enterprises, examining the actual performance of such organisations in the advanced industrialised countries. The authors consider the regularities and characteristics of state-owned enterprises, in particular the persistent efforts of managers to increase their autonomy and escape from the oversight of government agencies and the public. Chapters consider principles of finance and decision-making in these organisations and provide a truly international perspective with case studies in Italy, France and Britain. This is a timely reissue in context of the current economic climate, which will be of great value to students and academics with an interest in the nationalisation of companies, international business and the relationship between governments and managers.

In 2001, the European Commission published its so-called Ports Package, a first attempt at developing a European policy for seaports. The Ports Package includes a Directive on Market Access to Port Services, which will influence the port industry thoroughly and lead to fundamental changes in daily port operations. In this volume, academics as well as practising lawyers from France, Ireland, Italy and Belgium describe the legal framework for the several branches of the port sector, recalling the far-reaching practical implications of existing general EU law and discussing the latest versions of the Port Services Directive proposal. Completed by authoritative views from the head of the Commission's ports unit, a specialist MEP, and representatives from both the public and the private port sector, this book offers a fairly complete overview of existing port law as well as the main points of concern in the policy debate. Its purpose is to serve both as a policy background document and as a working tool for public and private port players, as well as for academics and lawyers.