The Co-production of Public Services

Co-production is becoming a common way of providing public services. The interest of practitioners, engaged in this social innovation practice, has grown exponentially. So has done the academic literature that has blossomed over the last decade in a vibrant field of study. This book is a timely effort to address the lack of systematic knowledge on co-production, by systematizing 266 selected empirical and theoretical articles. The in-depth analysis has resulted in a comprehensive framework for the activation, management and evaluation of co-production. It integrates the wide array of concepts, debated in the field, under four pillars: general context, antecedents, collaboration management levers, and outcomes, including negative aspects. It provides scholars, practitioners and students with an analytical map to better understand co-production and areas for further research.

Denita Cepiku is Associate Professor of Public Management at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. She is President of the Technical Commission for Performance at the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Marta Marsilio is Associate Professor of Management at University of Milan, Italy and research fellow at Karolinska Institute, Sweden.

Mariafrancesca Sicilia is an Associate Professor of public sector accounting and management at University of Bergamo, Italy.

Milena Vainieri is Associate Professor of Management at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa, Italy and responsible for the Management and Health laboratory of the Institute of Management and Embeds department.