government monopoly
Sole public provider
A government monopoly is exclusive control by a state over a particular industry, service, or commodity.
Governments may monopolize essential services like postal delivery, utilities, or transit, or control vice markets like alcohol sales or gambling.
The term often carries critical connotations, implying inefficiency or restricted choice: The government monopoly on healthcare leaves patients with few options.
- price controlRegulated market rates
- state interventionPublic authority involvement
- energy sectorFuel and electricity businesses
- British East India CompanyColonial trading monopoly
- public goodsShared, non-excludable resources
public accountability · nationalization · defense industry · water utilities · utility company · toll road · natural resources · postal services · telecommunications · policy-making · social welfare · healthcare systems · legislative oversight · transportation networks · education systems · resource allocation · mixed economies · liquor store
- monopoliesStandard Oil, AT&T, De Beers, Ma Bell, trusts
- monopolymarket power, market dominance, market concentration, dominance, market control
- state enterprisesstate enterprises, Amtrak, BBC, public enterprises, USPS
government monopolyperfect competition
Frictionless market ideal
competitive market · open market · oligopoly · duopoly · free enterprise
government monopolyprivate enterprise
Individually owned business operation
private ownership · free enterprise · private sector · privatization · entrepreneurship
government monopolylaissez-faire
Noninterference in commerce
capitalism · deregulation · market economy · neoliberalism · anarcho-capitalism
government, govern, governor, governess, governance, governmental, governing, governed, ungovernable