Abstract

The paper surveys the evolution of the British Post Office, with particular reference to the performance of regulated postal services. Over the years, the British Postal services have experienced ever increasing rates of efficiency with an overall productivity enhancement thanks to the intervention of the regulator which has triggered a substantial restructuring of the service. The British Post Office's service improvement has been the result of the "threat" of the liberalisation of the legal monopoly rather than the competitive pressure of an unregulated market.