Nationalization: Definition, in the Oil Industry and the U.S. (2024)

What Is Nationalization?

Nationalization refers to the action of a government taking control of a company or industry, which generally occurs without compensation for the loss of the net worth of seized assets and potential income. The action may be the result of a nation's attempt to consolidate power, resentment of foreign ownership of industries representing significant importance to local economies or to prop up failing industries.

Key Takeaways

  • Nationalization is the process of taking privately-controlled companies, industries, or assets and putting them under the control of the government.
  • Nationalization often happens in developing countries and can reflect a nation's desire to control assets or to assert its dominance over foreign-owned industries.
  • Often, the companies or assets are taken over and little to no compensation is provided to the previous owners.
  • Nationalization is different from privatization, in which government-run companies are moved into the private business sector.

Understanding Nationalization

Nationalization is more common in developing countries. Privatization, which is the transfer of government-run operations into the private business sector, occurs more frequently in developed countries.

Nationalization is one of the primary risks for companies doing business in foreign countries due to the potential of having significant assets seized without compensation. This risk is magnified in countries with unstable political leadership and stagnant or contracting economies. The key outcome of nationalization is the redirection of revenues to the country’s government instead of private operators who may export funds with no benefit to the host country.

Nationalization and Oil

The oil industry has experienced nationalization actions for decades, dating back to Mexico’s nationalization of the assets of foreign producers such as Royal Dutch and Standard Oil in 1938 and Iran's nationalization of the assets of Anglo-Iranian 1951. The result of Mexico's nationalization of foreigners’ oil assets was the creation of PEMEX, which is one of the largest oil producers in the world. After the nationalization of Anglo-Iranian, Iran's economy fell into disarray, and Britain was allowed back in as a 50% partner a few years later. In 1954, Anglo-Iranian was renamed the British Petroleum Company.

In 2007, Venezuela nationalized Exxon Mobil’s Cerro Negro Project and other assets. Seeking $16.6 billion in compensation, Exxon Mobil was awarded approximately 10% of that amount by a World Bank arbitration panel in 2014.

Nationalization in the United States

The United States has technically nationalized several companies, usually in the form of a bailout in which the government owns a controlling interest. The bailouts of AIG in 2008 and General Motors Company in 2009 amounted to nationalization, but the U.S. government exerted very little control over these companies. The government also nationalized the failing Continental Illinois Bank and Trust in 1984, finally selling it to Bank of America in 1994.

Despite the temporary nature of most nationalization actions in the United States, there are exceptions. Amtrak was transferred to government ownership after several railroad companies failed in 1971. After the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the airport security industry was nationalized under the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Nationalization: Definition, in the Oil Industry and the U.S. (2024)

FAQs

Nationalization: Definition, in the Oil Industry and the U.S.? ›

Nationalization refers to the action of a government taking control of a company or industry, which generally occurs without compensation for the loss of the net worth of seized assets and potential income.

What does it mean to nationalize the oil industry? ›

Nationalization eliminates private business operations—in which private international companies control oil resources within oil-producing countries—and transfers them to the ownership of the governments of those countries.

What is the meaning of nationalization? ›

Nationalization (nationalisation in British English) is the process of transforming privately-owned assets into public assets by bringing them under the public ownership of a national government or state. Nationalization contrasts with privatization and with demutualization.

Why doesn't the US nationalize its oil? ›

But the reason not to nationalize boils down to one word: efficiency. Globally, a ton of energy production is managed by governments. Oil, gas, and coal production in most foreign countries, particularly developing ones, is managed by state-owned enterprises.

What does nationalizing a company mean? ›

Nationalization is the process by which private companies become owned and controlled by the government. It often happens in developing countries when governments wish to seize control of a profitable industry in order to create a sizable income stream for those in power.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of nationalization? ›

Nationalization can be an effective way to redistribute wealth and resources, but it has both pros and cons. While it can help reduce inequality and provide greater access to essential services, it can also lead to reduced efficiency, increased bureaucracy, and political interference.

What industries are nationalized in the US? ›

List of partially or wholly federally owned enterprises
  • Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
  • Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
  • Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps)
  • Export-Import Bank of the United States.
  • Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation.

Why doesn't the US supply its own oil? ›

That happens because of a combination of economics and chemistry. The economics are simple: overseas oil, even after shipping costs, is often cheaper than domestically-produced crude.

Does the US produce enough oil to sustain itself? ›

Oil Reserves in the United States

The United States has proven reserves equivalent to 4.9 times its annual consumption. This means that, without imports, there would be about 5 years of oil left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).

Why aren t US companies drilling for more oil? ›

According to Bloomberg, “U.S. oil companies generally have been reluctant to pump more, preferring to steer cash flows back to investors instead of spending it on new drilling that could flood the world with cheap crude.”

Is nationalization a privatization? ›

Nationalization involves the transfer of ownership and control of an industry or enterprise from private to public ownership. In contrast, privatization involves transferring ownership and management from the public to the private sector.

Can the US government nationalize a bank? ›

Unilateral Action. In nationalization, ownership and control transfer to the government, usually as a unilateral decision, meaning the government makes the decision, not the bank owners.

What is the difference between nationalism and nationalization? ›

Answer. Answer: nationalism emphasise a nation's interests and identity,while nationalization involves the government taking Private assets or industries under public ownership and control.

Why did Iran want to nationalize oil? ›

The nationalization of the Iranian oil industry (Persian: نهضت ملی شدن صنعت نفت ایران) resulted from a movement in the Iranian parliament (Majlis) to seize control of Iran's oil industry, which had been run by private companies, largely controlled by foreign interests.

Which countries have nationalized the oil industry? ›

  • Saudi Aramco.
  • Rosneft.
  • National Iranian Oil Company.
  • China National Petroleum Corp.
  • Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
  • Petroleos de Venezuela.
  • Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.
  • China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec)

Why did Mexico nationalize the oil companies in 1938? ›

These developments, combined with the fact that the large oil companies often paid their Mexican workers only half as much as other employees working in the same capacity, ultimately led to massive labor unrest. A strike by oil workers in 1937 ultimately led the Mexican Government to act.

What is the difference between nationalize and privatize? ›

Nationalization involves the transfer of ownership and control of an industry or enterprise from private to public ownership. In contrast, privatization involves transferring ownership and management from the public to the private sector.

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