Julian Le Grand
Encyclopedia
Julian Le Grand is Richard Titmuss
Professor of Social Policy
at the London School of Economics
(LSE) and was a senior policy advisor to former Prime Minister Tony Blair
.
Le Grand is the author, co-author or editor of seventeen books and over ninety articles on economics
, philosophy
and public policy
. One of his recent books, Motivation, Agency and Public Policy: of Knights and Knaves, Pawns and Queens (Oxford University Press, 2003), was described by The Economist
as ‘accessible - and profound’ and by The Times
as ‘one of the most important books on public policy in recent years’. He was one of Prospect magazine’s
100 top British public intellectual
s, and one of the ESRC’s
ten Heroes of Dissemination.
He is one of the principal architects of the UK Government’s current ‘quasi-market
’ reforms introducing choice and competition into health care and education
. In addition, he originated and developed several innovative ideas in social policy
, including one that became the ‘baby bond’ or Child Trust Fund
, the Partnership Scheme for funding long term care endorsed by the 2005 Wanless
Report Securing Good Care for Older People, the Educational Premium for the less well off and for looked after children, and the Social Care Practice in the 2006 Department for Education and Skills Green Paper
, Care Matters.
Le Grand was one of the signatories of a letter published in The Guardian
on 15 April 2008, which criticised the UK Government's "retreat in the face of a rightwing challenge over inheritance tax
". Le Grand and his co-authors argued that inheritance tax "is one of the few tools which directly reduces inherited inequalities
."
Richard Titmuss
Richard Morris Titmuss was a pioneering British social researcher and teacher. He founded the academic discipline of Social Administration and held the founding chair in the subject at the London School of Economics.His books and articles of the 1950s helped to define the characteristics of...
Professor of Social Policy
Social policy
Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LSE) and was a senior policy advisor to former Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
.
Le Grand is the author, co-author or editor of seventeen books and over ninety articles on economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
. One of his recent books, Motivation, Agency and Public Policy: of Knights and Knaves, Pawns and Queens (Oxford University Press, 2003), was described by The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
as ‘accessible - and profound’ and by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
as ‘one of the most important books on public policy in recent years’. He was one of Prospect magazine’s
Prospect (magazine)
Prospect is a monthly British general interest magazine, specialising in politics and current affairs. Frequent topics include British, European, and US politics, social issues, art, literature, cinema, science, the media, history, philosophy, and psychology...
100 top British public intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
s, and one of the ESRC’s
Economic and Social Research Council
The Economic and Social Research Council is one of the seven Research Councils in the United Kingdom. It receives most of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and provides funding and support for research and training work in social and economic issues, such as...
ten Heroes of Dissemination.
He is one of the principal architects of the UK Government’s current ‘quasi-market
Quasi-market
A quasi-market is a public sector institutional structure that is designed to reap the supposed efficiency gains of free markets without losing the equity benefits of traditional systems of public administration and financing....
’ reforms introducing choice and competition into health care and education
Education policy
Education policy refers to the collection of laws and rules that govern the operation of education systems.Education occurs in many forms for many purposes through many institutions. Examples include early childhood education, kindergarten through to 12th grade, two and four year colleges or...
. In addition, he originated and developed several innovative ideas in social policy
Social policy
Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
, including one that became the ‘baby bond’ or Child Trust Fund
Child Trust Fund
A Child Trust Fund is a long-term savings or investment account for children in the United Kingdom. New accounts cannot be created but existing accounts can receive new money...
, the Partnership Scheme for funding long term care endorsed by the 2005 Wanless
Derek Wanless
Sir Derek Wanless is an English banker and adviser to the United Kingdom Government.He was educated at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, has an MA in Mathematics from King's College, Cambridge which he attended on a support grant from Westminster Bank...
Report Securing Good Care for Older People, the Educational Premium for the less well off and for looked after children, and the Social Care Practice in the 2006 Department for Education and Skills Green Paper
Green paper
In the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland and the United States a green paper is a tentative government report of a proposal without any commitment to action; the first step in changing the law...
, Care Matters.
Le Grand was one of the signatories of a letter published in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
on 15 April 2008, which criticised the UK Government's "retreat in the face of a rightwing challenge over inheritance tax
Inheritance tax
An inheritance tax or estate tax is a levy paid by a person who inherits money or property or a tax on the estate of a person who has died...
". Le Grand and his co-authors argued that inheritance tax "is one of the few tools which directly reduces inherited inequalities
Economic inequality
Economic inequality comprises all disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income. The term typically refers to inequality among individuals and groups within a society, but can also refer to inequality among countries. The issue of economic inequality is related to the ideas of...
."
Works
He has written widely, including:- The Economics of Social Problems, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008 http://www.palgrave.com/products/title.aspx?PID=280559
- Motivation, agency & public policy: of knights and knaves, pawns & queens, Oxford UP, 2003
- "Health, Values & Social Policy". In Ann Oakley & Jonathan Barker, Private Complaints & Public Health, Policy Press, 2004
- The Other Invisible Hand: Delivering Public Services Through Choice and Competition, Princeton University Press, 2007