The overstaffed, inefficient, state-owned oil firm Petróleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, essentially functions as a cash till for the government.
The Italian state overstaffed the railway for years, did not take into account hidden costs from complicated ticket prices in calculating the national inflation rate and racked up debts that helped contribute to the euro crisis, he writes.
Pemex, the grossly overstaffed, inefficient and overtaxed state oil and gas giant, has overseen a decline in oil production (down by 20% in a decade) and proven reserves (down by a third) and a rise in energy imports.
Despite Asian passenger numbers booming, Malaysia Airlines, in common with many state airlines, has long been overstaffed, inefficient and unprofitable.
After massive layoffs, most state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are still overstaffed by between a third and a half, say analysts.
Croatia's state administration is bloated, and public companies are overstaffed.
State-owned businesses are widely regarded as grossly overstaffed; one former minister recently acknowledged hiring 14,000 temporary workers.
COSATU's general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, grudgingly admitted that there was a need to "restructure" some state-owned companies (most of which are hugely overstaffed and inefficient), but pleaded that "job losses should not be the primary goal of restructuring".
State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi issued a report this week that said the authority had taken too few steps to address its financial problems, and that its headquarters was overstaffed.
Iranian government offices are vastly overstaffed.
