This book analyzes the increasing use made by contemporary British governments of contracts to regulate a wide range of economic and social relationships. It provides a critical analysis of such contractual arrangements and evaluates their potential both to benefit the parties and to achieve the Government's regulatory objectives.
I CONCEPTUAL FOUNDATIONS AND GENEALOGY 1. Government by Contract and the New Public Contracting 2. Policy Background II REGULATION, RESPONSIVENESS, RELATIONALITY 3. Regulation and Governance 4. Responsiveness 5. The New Public Contracting in Regulatory Perspective III THE NEW PUBLIC CONTRACTING 6. Contract in Government 7. Contract and Economic Organisation 8. Citizens, Consumers, and Public Services 9. Contract and Social Control IV LAW AND CONTRACTUAL GOVERNANCE 10. Legal Debates and Reform Strategies 11. Law and Contractual Governance 12. Conclusions