This book investigates the inherent tensions and boundaries between the application of competition law and the provision of essential public services. Tony Prosser, a scholar of public law, utilizes a comparative legal framework to analyze how market-oriented regulations interact with state-provided services. By examining the legal landscapes of the UK, France, Italy, and the European Union, the author argues that competition law cannot be universally applied without undermining the social objectives of public service delivery.

Legal scholars and practitioners recognize this work as a significant contribution to the discourse on the intersection of market regulation and public interest. Experts frequently cite the text for its nuanced approach to the limitations of competition law within the European legal context.