The Rise of the PR Industry in Britain, 1979-98

Public relations is politically and economically more important than ever. This article charts the growth of the PR industry in Britain since 1979. It sets out the major reasons for its growth and outlines some of the political and economic impacts of the expansion on the PR consultancy sector in Britain. In particular it focuses on the `tilt to the market' under Thatcher, the role of the PR industry in deregulation and privatization and the progressive abolition of controls on international movement of capital as exemplified in Britain by the `Big Bang'. In addition the article discusses the consequences of these developments in opening up new and expanded markets for PR consultancies.