This paper reviews selected aspects of the history of UK supply-side policy in terms of their
productivity implications. An important change after the 1970s which improved productivity
performance was the adoption of policies to end protectionism and strengthen competition. A
review of horizontal industrial policies shows weaknesses in education, infrastructure, taxation and,
especially, land-use planning but, on the positive side, a regulatory stance conducive to the rapid
adoption of ICT. A big implication is that any return to a more active industrial policy should be
designed to minimize adverse effects on competition
