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Abstract

This paper places this special issue of Public Policy and Administration in the context of a PAC sponsored research workshop, held at the University of Portsmouth in early 1994. The paper then explores the background to Market Testing, arguing it must be seen as a progression from many of the reforms imposed on the civil service over the last fifteen years, yet containing some important aspects which appear to contradict the stated goals of those other programmes. The papers by Dunleavy, Oughton and Jordan are discussed in this context, as is other current work relevant to the subject. Finally, the paper introduces some partial results of a survey of officials, currently being undertaken at the University of Portsmouth, before discussing the more salient implications of the Market Testing Programme.

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