Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1024546 | Government Information Quarterly | 2012 | 9 Pages |
This paper examines the evolution of citizen coproduction in the age of social media, web 2.0 interactivity, and ubiquitous connectivity. The paper first discusses the re-emergence of citizen coproduction – whereby citizens perform the role of partner rather than customer in the delivery of public services – as a fashionable policy option in the face of persistent budget deficits and the advent of new channels for mass collaboration. Finding a plethora of competing labels, models, and concepts for coproduction in the age of social media, the paper proposes a unified typology to support systematic analysis based on the overarching categories of “Citizen Sourcing,” “Government as a Platform,” and “Do-It-Yourself Government.” To demonstrate its use, the typology is applied to leading U.S. government implementations. The paper concludes with a discussion of the potential implications for public administration, the remaining limitations and rising social concerns, and the possible emergence of a new social contract that empowers the public to play a far more active role in the functioning of their government.
► Governments concluding ICT-empowered citizens can do more for themselves. ► A typology for citizen coproduction in the age of social media is developed. ► ICT-facilitated coproduction challenges and offers successor to New Public Mgmt. ► New role of state as framer, sponsor, mobilizer, monitor & provider of last resort. ► Valid social concerns remain, requiring proactive counterbalancing by government.