Triangular Relations in Public Service Economics

Abstract

This paper critically re-examines the restructuring of public services. Four main decision-making phases are identified: the public oversight to be guaranteed to socially sensitive economic activities; the ways of financing them; the economic organisation of the industry; and the production decisions. By focusing on organisation, the paper reinterprets the market structure in public service industries on the basis of the interactions among three main players: users/citizens, the government and the service supplier. It argues that the issue of public versus private ownership has been overemphasised, and that an effective increase in efficiency can be obtained by introducing appropriate incentives for both public and business players. Instead of using a single policy instrument, namely privatisation, public action ought to be informed by an array of organisational solutions.

Organisation de l’entretien de la voirie locale dans les territoires ruraux. Le cas de trois communes du Puy-de-Dôme

“…Cadre conceptuel : l'entretien de la voirie comme un service collectif local Nous mobilisons le cadre du triangle de service (igure 1), développé initialement pour mieux comprendre les caractéristiques propres aux activités tertiaires (Hill, 1977 ;Delaunay et Gadrey, 1987 ;Gadrey, 2003). Cette approche a été appliquée, au niveau micro-économique, à l'analyse de la fourniture de services environnementaux (Aznar, 2002), des services publics (Archibugi et al, 2003) ou encore aux modalités d'innovation dans les services (Gallouj, 1994).…”

Understanding Landscape Stewardship – Lessons to be Learned from Public Service Economics

“…, 2006). Thus, the economic problem is understood as a challenge of co‐ordination or co‐operation (Richter and Furubotn, 1996; Archibugi et al. , 2003).…”

“…We refer to Archibugi et al. (2003) to illustrate the services quadrilateral (Figure 1), which shows the relationships among suppliers, users and governing bodies (intermediaries) for the public services of landscape stewardship.…”

“…the social relationship between actors with regard to the valuable good (Bromley, 1991;von Benda-Beckmann et al, 2006). Thus, the economic problem is understood as a challenge of co-ordination or co-operation (Richter and Furubotn, 1996;Archibugi et al, 2003).…”

“…On the other hand, local public authorities or local associations are motivated to enhance the quality of their local landscape as a place of living, busi-Figure 1. The service quadrilateral (according to Archibugi et al, 2003). Note: Dotted lines indicate relationships usually mediated by intermediaries ness location or tourist destination by constituent pressure and lobbying or even by designing, financing and implementing their own progammes.…”