This book investigates the efficacy and feasibility of private sector involvement in the delivery of essential public services within developing nations. The author, Gabriel Joseph Roth, utilizes his background in economic development to analyze the operational challenges and potential benefits of shifting service provision from state control to private enterprise. By evaluating multiple sectors, the text provides a framework for understanding how market-based solutions can address systemic inefficiencies in infrastructure and social services.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of privatization and economic development in the late 20th century. Readers frequently note the clarity of the author's sectoral approach, which remains a standard reference for policy analysts studying infrastructure reform.