Microeconomic Reform in Britain

Microeconomic Reform in Britain: Delivering Opportunities for All provides a comprehensive guide to the extensive microeconomic reforms implemented over the last 6 years to realise the UK Government's goals: a stronger more enterprising economy and a fairer society. This companion volume to Reforming Britain's Economic and Financial Policy: Towards Greater Economic Stability , published in 2002, offers a detailed account of a programme of reforms which together constitute a comprehensive strategy to lock in the stability needed to support steady growth by pursuing both enterprise and fairness for all. Building on the foundations of monetary and fiscal reform, the reforms in microeconomic policy described in this volume provide the framework for improving Britain's overall productivity, expanding national wealth and protecting the environment. The government's approach to raising productivity across all sectors and income groups, supporting families, and tackling poverty is presented, together with a detailed account of the reform of the delivery of public services. This volume is a key resource for students of economics and politics, bringing together the work which will have a profound influence on the future of British economic policy making.

Foreword by Gordon Brown Introduction Overview: Key Principles for Policy Making PART I: RAISING PRODUCTIVITY IN THE UK UK Productivity Gap and the Foundation for Government Policy Trend Growth Enterprise and Productivity Challenge: Government Policy to Date The Regional and Local Dimensions The Environment European Economic Reform PART 2: FULL EMPLOYMENT AND THE LABOUR MARKET Historical Performance of the UK Labour Market Welfare to Work Making Work Pay - Tax Credits and National Minimum Wage PART 3: TACKLING POVERTY AND PROMOTING OPPORTUNITY Supporting Families and Children Promoting Saving Throughout Life Security and Independence in Retirement Tackling Poverty: A New Global Deal PART 4: WORLD CLASS PUBLIC SERVICES Public Sector Productivity: An Analysis Public Service Reform Public Investment and Capital Appraisal Conclusion: Constrained Discretion - The New Model