Social Economy Involvement in Public Service Delivery: Community Engagement and Accountability

Marialaura Caterina Di Domenico (1) , Paul Tracey (2) , Helen Haugh (1)

1 Judge Business School
2 WBS - Warwick Business School

This paper considers the policy changes that have led to the outsourcing of contracts for the delivery of public services in the UK, with a focus on the role of social economy organisations. Specifically, we critique the arguments in favour of social economy involvement in public service delivery, and suggest that increased reliance on the sector poses particular challenges with respect to community engagement and local accountability. We go on to argue that a relatively new form of community-based organisation - the Development Trust - is potentially well-positioned to address these challenges.

Mots clés: Social Sciences & Humanities

Marialaura Caterina Di Domenico, Paul Tracey, Helen Haugh. Social Economy Involvement in Public Service Delivery: Community Engagement and Accountability. Regional Studies, 2009, 43 (07), pp.981-992. ⟨10.1080/00343400701874180⟩. ⟨hal-00516192⟩