Health Care and Neoliberalism: Comparing the United States and Great Britain

In the latest of the HSMC at 50 Seminars, Harvard Professor John E. McDonough, and HSMC's Professor Mark Exworthy, look at the lasting impact that the free market revolution of the 1980s has had on both the US and UK health Care Systems.

Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan had profound impacts on their respective societies when they assumed office in 1979 and 1981, respectively, and free market revolutions often referred to as neoliberalism.  Though they both have long since passed from the scene, elements of their complementary visions have survived, including in the health and medical care space in each society.  Professor John E McDonough will describe the US version of this intellectual revolution and its 40+ years impact on the performance and cost of the US health care system.  Professor Mark Exworthy will do the same focused on the British experience and legacy.

Speaker Bios

John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA is a professor of practice at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy & Management and Director of the HSPH Center for Executive & Continuing Professional Education. Between 2008 and 2010, he served as a Senior Advisor on National Health Reform to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions where he worked on the writing and passage of the Affordable Care Act. 

Mark Exworthy is a Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham and Co-Director of the MBA Clinical Leadership course. Mark has previously held posts at Southampton University, London School of Economics (LSE), University College London (UCL), Oxford Brookes and Royal Holloway University of London.

Throughout 2022, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham. This is 50 years of being one of the UK’s foremost centres for research and evaluation, teaching and professional development for health and social care organisations. 50 years of being a “critical friend” of the healthcare community and striving to bridge the gap between research and practice.