This report explores government’s design and oversight of public service markets in employment services (the Work Programme), secondary education, car
It argues that policy makers need to see themselves as stewards of systems with multiple actors and decision makers.
Bold claims about payment by results mechanisms all depend on capacity for provision entering into new, uncertain, markets.
Testing new commissioning models offers many benefits: implementation can be investigated, contracts perfected, and mistakes minimised. Yet there is a
This publication examines the difficulties of ‘opening up’ public services through choice and competition and identifies some possible remedies.
This paper traces the history of competition in the prisons sector, assesses what we currently know about its impact and draws out some lessons for th
This paper traces the history of choice and competition in the further education sector, assesses what we currently know about its impact and draws ou
This paper traces the history of quasi-markets in UK secondary education, assesses how closely the current system resembles a fully-formed quasi-marke
This working paper identifies six questions that those introducing, adapting or overseeing contractual mechanisms in public services should ask to gai
This research highlights the lack of information and support for those designing, managing and stewarding public service markets across government.
One third of government’s spending is with contractors: last year, four departments spent more than half their budgets with external suppliers.