David Hall

Professor David Hall

Small Group Project 2022-23

Ancient and modern public services: cross-disciplinary provocations

Public services are at the heart of current academic and political debates on the proper relationship between the state, markets and democracy. They are also central to the ways in which countries have responded to Covid, and discussions of public policy for dealing with climate change, especially the importance of collective action. There is also an historical debate about the interpretation of widespread and growing evidence of the development of public services such as water supply, urban planning, and roads, in ancient civilisations across the world, and the relative role of collective action and authoritsrian rulers. These debates are related because both concern the efficiency or otherwise of public sector production of just services.

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Areas of interest

Public Services Economics Politics Law Public Finance Public Ownership Privatisation Corruption Water Energy Healthcare

Cohort

FG8

Biography

David Hall is a Visiting Professor at the University of Greenwich, London, in the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), of which he was Director from 2000-2013. He researches the economics, politics and law of public services, public finance, public ownership, privatisation, PPPs, outsourcing and corruption in water, energy, waste management, healthcare and other sectors – globally, in Europe, and in the UK. He has written many reports, journal articles, book chapters, and two books. His recent research covers the finances of water and energy companies in the UK, narratives on public spending and services, the economics and history of public services, lessons from Covid, remunicipalisation trends, UK and global law on compensation and nationalisation, and popular support for public ownership in the UK and elsewhere.

Biographical details correct as of 20.04.26