Providing public and private goods – The past, the present and the future

There are two ways of supplying goods in society. Across political regimes and throughout history there has been a continuum between those two options – the state at one end being the exclusive provider of almost every good, from food to films and football gear (think the Soviet Union); and at the other end certain societies trusting the private initiative of their members with the delivery of even the most vital products and services. Britain had some sympathy for the former model. It is now more aligned with the latter. Has the pendulum swung too far? If so, what should be the province of the state?

The past is not always a good guide. Through history, almost every economic activity has been in turn offered by state agencies and businesses, from mercenary armies and the judgement of criminals, to money creation and postal services. What criteria should we apply in deciding to privatise, or nationalise? Prof Tim Evans will introduce the debate. He has gained experience in all three sectors, having been the head of a Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, the director of public affairs for the UK’s independent health and social care sector, the President of a major Brussels based think tank, and now Professor of Business and Political Economy at Middlesex University London.

With new leaders on the left of the political spectrum in many countries, including the UK, the USA and Spain, the issue of who should provide public services is back on the agenda. Join in the debate.