Co-production and co-creation: engaging citizens in public services

Co-production and co-creation occur when citizens participate actively in delivering and designing the services they receive.

It has come increasingly onto the agenda of policymakers, as interest in citizen participation has more generally soared.

Expectations are high and it is regarded as a possible solution to the public sector's decreased legitimacy and dwindling resources, by accessing more of society's capacities.

In addition, it is seen as part of a more general drive to reinvigorate voluntary participation and strengthen social cohesion in an increasingly fragmented and individualized society.

This book offers a systematic and comprehensive theoretical and empirical examination of the concepts of co-production and co-creation and their application in practice.