Colin Talbot
Encyclopedia
Colin Talbot is a British
political scientist. He is currently (2009) a professor at the University of Manchester
and holds the Chair of Public Policy and Management at Manchester Business School
. He also acts as an adviser to Parliamentary Committees on public spending for the United Kingdom government department HM Treasury
.
and a PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Talbot held posts at British Telecom and at Local Government departments in London. In 1990 he joined London South Bank University as a senior lecturer. In 1995, he was appointed as Chair in Public Policy and Management at University of Glamorgan
, followed by appointments at University of Nottingham
and University of Manchester
.
He is one of the founders of the Herbert Simon
Institute.
Talbot is particularly critical of the power of HM Treasury
, as a government department, in contrast to other departments including the Cabinet Office, or the Prime Minister's Office. He also criticises the lack of a legal or constitutional basis of UK government departments.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
political scientist. He is currently (2009) a professor at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and holds the Chair of Public Policy and Management at Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School is the largest department of the University of Manchester in Manchester, England. According to Bloomberg Business Week's ranking of the world's best business schools the MBS MBA is ranked third in the world...
. He also acts as an adviser to Parliamentary Committees on public spending for the United Kingdom government department HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
.
Life and career
Collin Talbot has had an unconventional career, leaving school at 16 and working in various jobs before enrolling for an economics and social sciences degree course at Manchester University at the age of 21. He did not obtain a degree, instead became involved in student politics at Manchester University at the time. He subsequently obtained an MSc from London South Bank UniversityLondon South Bank University
London South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
and a PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Talbot held posts at British Telecom and at Local Government departments in London. In 1990 he joined London South Bank University as a senior lecturer. In 1995, he was appointed as Chair in Public Policy and Management at University of Glamorgan
University of Glamorgan
The University of Glamorgan is a university based in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales with campuses in Treforest, Glyntaff, Merthyr Tydfil, Tyn y Wern and Cardiff...
, followed by appointments at University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
and University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
.
He is one of the founders of the Herbert Simon
Herbert Simon
Herbert Alexander Simon was an American political scientist, economist, sociologist, and psychologist, and professor—most notably at Carnegie Mellon University—whose research ranged across the fields of cognitive psychology, cognitive science, computer science, public administration, economics,...
Institute.
Parliamentary Adviser
Colin Talbot has acted as advisor and consultant to public organisations in the UK and internationally. He has given evidence to parliamentary committees on performance and public spending issues for the Treasury, on Public Administration and Welsh Affairs committees. He is currently a Specialist Adviser to the Treasury Committee.Talbot is particularly critical of the power of HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
, as a government department, in contrast to other departments including the Cabinet Office, or the Prime Minister's Office. He also criticises the lack of a legal or constitutional basis of UK government departments.
Work
- The Paradoxical Primate (2004) ISBN 0907845851
- Agencies: how governments do things through semi-autonomous organizations (2004, with Pollitt, C; Caulfield, J & Smullen, A) ISBN 1403933227
- Unbundled Government: A critical analysis of the global trend to agencies, quangos and contratualisation (2003, editor with Pollitt, C) ISBN 0415314488
- The Alternative Comprehensive Spending Review (2007, editor with Baker, M) ISBN 0719078075
External links
- Culture Wars review of The Paradoxical Primate
- Public Finance magazine (weekly) http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/
- Colin Talbot’s blog on the Whitehall Village and Public Management