FIRST STUDIES ON PRIVATISATION IN CROATIA PUBLISHED

ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - The institute of social sciences "Ivo Pilar" on Friday published the studies "Privatisation and the Public", which is based on data gathered in research conducted last year. The studies are the first serious analysis of the privatisation process and its social and economic consequences in Croatia since the early 90's. According to Nevenka Cuckovic of the Zagreb Institute for International Relations, the privatisation process has not fulfilled all of the expected economic goals, such as progress in the restructuring of companies and speedier growth of productivity and cost-effectiveness of companies in the domestic and foreign markets. According to the first public opinion poll on privatisation, more than 68 per cent of the interviewed expressed dissatisfaction with the privatisation process so far. Cuckovic believes the negative perception of privatisation was caused by a lack of support among the population for the privatisation policy, a lack of a public debate on the selection of a privatisation model and transparency in the sale of companies, as well as a lack of serious penalties for illegal activities. The research also showed that Croatian citizens often know only the basic information or nothing about privatisation, and that only every fifth citizen is acquainted with it. Almost 80 per cent of the interviewed said they knew nothing or only the basic information about the privatisation process. Aleksandar Stulhofer of Zagreb Faculty of Philosophy's Sociology Department said the most negative stand towards privatisation was being demonstrated by the most productive part of population - those aged between 30 and 50. The interviewed mostly blamed the political and administrative authorities and those involved in implementing privatisation for abuse and irregularities in the privatisation process. (hina) rml .