Abstract
The privatization of basic utilities has led to a shift in their status from producers of social goods to traders in commercial commodities. The social policy consequences of this shift have been transferred from the public to the private domain with significant results for poorest con sumers, in particular. This article traces these policy changes and their impact upon key interests, with an emphasis upon the treatment of those least able to pay. A series of future policy developments are also analysed and their likely repercussions evaluated.

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