TY - GEN
T1 - Citizens, co-producers, customers, clients, captives?
T2 - A critical review of consumerism and public services
AU - Jung, Tobias
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Consumerism and choice have become prominent ideas in the design and delivery of public services. Often perceived as a way to improve the quality and value of public services, potential downsides and areas of concern that relate to a consumerist approach are frequently ignored. This review essay takes a critical stance on the application of a consumerist discourse to public service provision and management by exploring four key areas of concern: definitional problems, questions about the concept's transferability from a private to a public sector setting, the problematic nature of ‘choice’, and difficulties associated with implementing consumerist ideas within public service contexts..
AB - Consumerism and choice have become prominent ideas in the design and delivery of public services. Often perceived as a way to improve the quality and value of public services, potential downsides and areas of concern that relate to a consumerist approach are frequently ignored. This review essay takes a critical stance on the application of a consumerist discourse to public service provision and management by exploring four key areas of concern: definitional problems, questions about the concept's transferability from a private to a public sector setting, the problematic nature of ‘choice’, and difficulties associated with implementing consumerist ideas within public service contexts..
UR - http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14719031003787940#.Us_16nmDrwI
U2 - 10.1080/14719031003787940
DO - 10.1080/14719031003787940
M3 - Article
SN - 1471-9037
VL - 12
SP - 439
EP - 446
JO - Public Management Review
JF - Public Management Review
ER -