Introduction: From "Ugly Ducklings" to "New Economic Swans": On the Rise of Public Network Services in Europe and the Americas; J.Clifton, F.Comín& D.D.Fuentes Cross Border Investment and Service Flows in Network Industries within Western Europe c.1830-1980; R.Millward Public Enterprises in Transition: The Case of France; P.Fridenson Public Enterprise and Public Networks in Italy 1952-2001: A Quantitative Profile; P.A.Toninelli& M.Vasta Ugly Ducklings Growth in Germany; H.G.Schröter Institutional Change and State Enterprise: The UK in Comparative Perspective 1945-90; R.Millward On the Emergence of Spanish Transnational Public Enterprises; F.Comín, D.D.Fuentes& J.Clifton Privatisation and Transnationalisation in Portugal (1980-2005) ; A.B.Nunes, C.Bastien& N.Valério Scandinavian Experiences of Network Industries. Public Enterprises and Changing Welfare Policies 1950-2005; L.Andersson-Skog& T.Pettersson Transforming Public Enterprises in Ireland: The Case Study of Air Transportation; S.Barrett Ownership and Trans-Nationalisation in the Benelux: The Case of the Belgian Railways 1834-2004; F.Buelens, J.van den Broeck& H.Willems Large Network Transnationalisation in Russia; M.Klinova The International Activities of Three Canadian Public Electrical Companies: Hydro-Québec, BC Hydro and Manitoba Hydro from 1988 to Today; P.Lanthier Transforming Public Enterprises in México: The Case of TELMEX; J.Clifton, D.D.Fuentes& C.Marichal American Exceptionalism? Privatisation and Transnationalisation in the United States; C.S.Chahyadi, W.L.Megginson& J.M.Salas Conclusions: The Future for Public Network Services; J.Clifton, F.Comín& D.D.Fuentes