ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses citizen participation, user influence and co-production in the provision and governance of social services. It focuses on major aspects of co-production in terms of the economic, social, political and service specific participation of parents in the provision of childcare. The chapter compares four major types of providers in Sweden: parent cooperatives, worker cooperatives, municipal services and small for-profit firms. It explores variations in parent and staff influence in the same four types of organizations, and considers the importance of welfare regimes and sectoral differences for co-production and third sector provision of welfare services. The chapter argues that a 'glass ceiling' exists in public and private for-profit services, both in terms of staff and user participation. Both public services and small for-profit firms demonstrate the existence of a 'glass ceiling' for the participation of citizens as consumers of enduring welfare services.
