What are ‘third way’ governments learning? Health care consumers and quality in England and Germany

This paper examines how consumer information is related to attempts to improve quality of healthcare in England and Germany, both being non-market systems. The paper traces the changes in policy between the first and second electoral terms of the respective ‘third way’ governments. Both systems are attempting to give consumers more information. But the question is how that information can be used. A degree of convergence can be observed concerning the amount of choice permitted to consumers. In the case of England, the amount of choice consumers have is gradually increasing, while in Germany, attempts are being made to restrict the wide choice of providers in order to cap expenditure.