Policy and Change

The policy environment has undergone considerable turbulence and change in the UK since 1984. A major transformation in political culture as well as shifts in organizational structures and conditions have all had a marked impact on most policy areas. This collection aims to draw together recent research into the changing policy world and examines both the pressures for change and the impact that it has had on major policy areas in recent years. Chapters focus on urban policy, health and social care, housing and labour markets. In particular, the text charts in some detail the implications for public service of: the arrival of the contract culture; the processes of political and administrative decentralization; the emphasis on quality; developments in information technology.