ABSTRACT
Jordan is basically a free-enterprise and market-oriented economy. This chapter explores the role of the public sector in Jordan in general and in each of the economic sectors. It focuses on the economic conditions which have triggered the privatisation drive. The chapter discusses the acts of privatisation along with the problems facing them. Agriculture is predominantly a private-sector domain when it comes to investment and production. The number of autonomous institutions that are relevant to a discussion on privatisation is eight. The private sector has played a very important role in the development of the country, especially in industry and agriculture, and in services such as trade, and business and financial services. The slow-down in private investments is partly due to the general economic slow-down and partly to the government’s indirect intervention in the form of regulation. The government is very serious in its privatisation plans, and is currently undertaking all the preparatory steps towards achieving this end.
