Commissioned by the Countryside Agency
This study, commissioned in 2006, examined the operation of the 'quasi markets' for health and education in rural areas and the effects of government plans to extend choice in public services. The research examined the behaviour of providers in the public, private and voluntary sector and the extent to which they are able or willing to provide a choice of services of a suitable quality for all people in rural areas including those from disadvantaged groups. In contexts where there may not be a choice, the study identified the types of the additional investment by the public sector required to provoke a response by the existing or potential providers, or identifying alternative policies. The research team included inputs from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Edmund Waterhouse.
Contact CEEDR for more details on this project.
