ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on co-production of public services, particularly labor intensive ones like long-term or enduring social services. It explores several crucial conceptual issues related to co-production. Co-production clearly implies different kinds of relationships between professional service providers and their clients. The chapter also focuses on the mix of activities that both public service agents and citizens contribute to the provision of public services. The growing mix and diversity of service providers not only implies greater opportunities for citizen involvement in the provision of public financed services, but it also becomes necessary to manage and govern this growing diversity. The importance and impact of social services guarantees high citizen/user interest in the development of such services, especially in their quality. Enduring social services include childcare or preschool, basic and higher education, eldercare, handicap care and housing, as well as preventive and long-term health care. The chapter considers similarities and differences between volunteering and co-production.
