ABSTRACT
It is tempting to see the causes of the crisis in planning education and research lying in the context of Britain’s econom1c plight. As we are well aware, the world-wide recession is hitting Britain hard and some would say that the present government’s economic policies are making matters worse. In addition to their general conduct of economic (or should one say “monetary"?) affairs, the government has made deep cuts in public expenditure affecting the local governments, who employ the vast majority of planners and the universities and polytechnics who conduct most planning research and education. All of this is being done in an atmosphere where “planning” of all kinds is distinctly unpopular not only among politicians but with the public at large.
