- First, many of the changes in social policy introduced since the 1970s have been in response either to business demands or more general concerns about national competitiveness and the needs of business - Second, globalisation has increased corporate power within states, leading to transformation in social and [[Fiscal policy]]. - Third, business has been incorporated into the management of many areas of the welfare state by governments keen to control expenditure and introduce private sector values into services. - Fourth, welfare service from hospitals to schools, have been increasingly oepend up to private markets > Most important area of corporate involvement is in the direct provision of welfare services. For example, the private sector has also been invited to bid for contracts to run fast-track surgeries which are being set up by the government to help tackle waiting lists (Dean, 2003) Various forms of business input into social policy under three key headings: 1) political engagement 2) institutional participation 3) provision and production However, these agency power of corporate is set within the context of [[structural power]] affecting corporate power. In the international arena, provision of [[General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)]] negotiations are an example of international corporate lobbying to facilitate internationalisation of business inputs into social policy, as international markets in welfare services begin to emerge. ## Related Notes [[There's a disjuncture between the capacity of national governments to operate within a global economy given the increasing economic power of MNCs]]