Who Engages in the Coproduction of Local Public Services and Why? The Case of Atlanta, Georgia

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Uzochukwu, Kelechi; Thomas, John Clayton
• 署名单位: University System of Maryland; University of Baltimore; University System of Georgia; Georgia State University
• 刊物名称: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0033-3352
• DOI: 10.1111/puar.12893
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 514-526
• 关键词: citizen participation; government officials; delivery; determinants; efficacy; sweden; sector; trust

摘要

With the resurgent interest in coproduction, questions arise around who joins with government in coproducing services and why. This article reports an exploratory study of these questions using data from Atlanta, Georgia. To guide the research, the article first proposes a set of hypotheses on involvement in coproduction based on theories of political participation, where psychological motivations and social factors dominate, and citizen-initiated contacting, where perceived needs for public services are usually primary. The hypotheses are tested using survey data on the engagement of 797 neighborhood organization participants in various forms of local coproduction in Atlanta. The findings provide some support for both theories along with evidence for significant idiosyncratic variations suggested by neither theory. A concluding section considers implications of the findings for future research and for public management. Evidence for Practice Many public services can be delivered effectively only if members of the public join in their production-if, in other words, they partner in service coproduction. To maximize the potential of coproduction, public managers need to understand who engages in coproduction and why. This research suggests that the public engages for a variety of reasons, some having to do with personal psychological orientations (including public service motivation) and others having to do with personal service needs. Practitioners may also find that African Americans and people with lower income and less education engage more in coproductive activities, contrary to the traditional socioeconomic stratification that is customary with political participation.