Co-production and innovation in public services: what can we learn from the provision of childcare in rural China?

Abstract

This paper explores whether the co-production model is more effective than the government-centric model in the provision of rural child welfare services in rural China. What are the processes and patterns of co-production in service provision? The paper begins by introducing the transition in the logic of service provision in the public sector from New Public Management to New Governance Theory. Then it elucidates the state of rural public service provision in China, especially child-related services. It then introduces a case that employs a co-production model in delivering child welfare services in rural China. By comparing the different intervention effects of the co-production versus the government-centric model, the paper argues that the co-production model is a dynamic way to deliver public services.