Private economy

The private sector is the part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the State (areas of the economy controlled by the state being referred to as the public sector).

The private sector employs most of the workforce in some countries. In private sector activities are guided by the motive to earn money.

In free economy countries, such as the United States, the private sector is wider, and places less constraints on firms. In countries with more government authority, such as China, the public sector makes up most of the economy.

States legally regulate the private sector. Businesses operating within a country must comply with the laws in that country.

In some cases, usually involving multinational corporations that can pick and choose their suppliers and locations based on their perception of the regulatory environment, local state regulations have resulted in uneven practices within one company. For example, workers in one country may benefit from strong labour unions, while workers in another country have very weak laws supporting labour unions, even though they work for the same employer. In some cases, industries and individual businesses choose to self-regulate by applying higher standards for dealing with their workers, customers, or the environment than the minimum that is legally required of them.

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