Greaves, Justin. (2008) Continuity or change in business representation in Britain? An assessment of the Heseltine initiatives of the 1990s. Environment and Planning C: Government & Policy , Vol.26 (No.5). pp. 998-1015. ISSN 0263-774X

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Abstract

Britain has a fragmented, overlapping, and underresourced system of business representation. Attempts at reform, however, have proved difficult and largely unsuccessful. A coherent and logical system is relevant, in terms of both an effective dialogue between government and business, and the promotion of competitiveness and productivity. Through interviews and archival evidence, I look at how government has attempted to reform business associations. The main focus is the Heseltine initiatives of the 1990s: I outline the various initiatives taken, reveal the extent to which policy represented continuity or change, and consider whether the initiatives were effective. I show that they had a degree of success but that they would have made greater impact if they had been sustained over a longer period of time. A consideration of the historical context, moreover, suggests there may be limits to the role of government intervention in business association reform.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Heseltine, Michael, 1933-, Business and politics -- Great Britain, Industrial policy -- Great Britain, Representative government and representation -- Great Britain, Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 1979-1997
Journal or Publication Title:	Environment and Planning C: Government & Policy
Publisher:	Pion Ltd.
ISSN:	0263-774X
Date:	October 2008
Volume:	Vol.26
Number:	No.5
Page Range:	pp. 998-1015
Identification Number:	10.1068/c0746r
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/1387

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