Privatization South American Style focuses on the politics of privatization in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. It examines both the micro and macroeconomics of achieving privatization, the policy measures introduced, and factors affecting the implementation of privatization. The political dimensions of privatization are analysed in order to explain the variations in national success in formulation and implementing privatization programmes. The author argues that evidence suggests that national governments as planned, and that rarely implement most divestiture policies from a technical standpoint, privatization is a learning process that evolves through trial and error. It also examines the apparently 'unconventional' methods used by the governments of Argentina, Brazil, and Peru to achieve privatization

Comparative in its approach, the book seeks also to shed light on the nature of privatization in countries throughout the developing world. The book more generally argues that poorly designed privatization policies may have future serious implications on issues such as the rule of law, and the regulation of public utilities.