Welfare State: Privatisation, Deregulation and Commercialisation of Public Services

During the 1980s and 90s the labour movement has been forced into defending the post-war welfare state and local services but has had relatively little to say on their design, context and delivery. The author analyzes the results of deregulation, privatization and commercialization of the public sector and shows that performance has by no means always been improved. The cost in terms of social needs, equality and democracy may have been even higher. "The Welfare State" provides strategies to rebuild public services and is directed towards campaigners, government employees and politicians.