couldnt be clearer really the selling of something national a population already owns, back into the private hands of a smaller richer subset of that same population, for a temporary increase in tax revenues.

ie direct theft in which the government hands all possible future growth and control to private shareholders in exchange for limited renumeration in the present.

this usually means the shareholder wins out through the underestimated value of land and property assets or its future growth in such deals, railway privatisation being a classic example of mid management understating, hiding and hijacking asset value from the public.

privatisation also has the often overlooked possibility of complete foreign ownership of national infrastructures, due to share trading and speculation with little control.