Which term refers to businesses and industries owned by the government?

• A. Private sector
• B. Public sector
• C. State-owned enterprises
• D. Crown Corporation

Answer: (D)

When the government owns businesses and industries, those enterprises are called crown corporations in many Commonwealth countries. This term signals a government-owned company that operates in the market like a business while still being owned by the state. It captures the idea of a public asset run with commercial goals, often with some independence from routine political control.

Think of the other terms as broader or different ideas. The private sector is owned by private individuals or companies, not the government. The public sector refers to the government and its public services as a whole, not specifically to individual government-owned firms. State-owned enterprises is a general label for government-owned companies in many countries; crown corporations are a more specific form used in certain systems, which is why they’re the best fit in this context.