structural:expansion, information:highlighting, quality:correction, quality:corruption, structural:scholar_edition
A state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a business entity which is established and/or owned by a national or state/provincial government, by an executive order or an act of legislation, in order to earn profit for the government, control monopoly of the private sector over means of production, provide commodities to citizens at a lower price, implement government policies, and/or to deliver products and services to remote locations that otherwise have trouble attracting private vendors. The national or state/provincial government will hold either all or majority equity over the assets of these enterprises, and often has direct jurisdiction over their operations. Defining characteristics of SOEs are their distinct legal form and possession of financial goals and developmental objectives, and they can be considered government entities established to pursue financial objectives from the commercial market and achieve state capitalist goals.