Reforming local service delivery by contracting out? Evaluating the experience of Danish road and park services

Kurt Houlberg, Ole Helby Petersen

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapportBidrag til bog/antologiForskningpeer review

Abstract

The use of privatisation and contracting out has constituted a major reform trend in local public service delivery for decades. This chapter evaluates whether there is evidence that contracting out has resulted in improved cost efficiency as argued by reform advocates. The empirical focus is delimited to local road and park services in Danish municipalities, which is an appropriate empirical setting for evaluating the reform outcomes due to the widespread and long-term use of private providers. The main finding is that contracting out has resulted in significant cost reductions. However, the effects are rather heterogeneous across various municipalities and the evidence suggests declining economic effects over time. We conclude that contracting out as a local service delivery reform seems to have “got rusty” over time.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelEvaluating Reforms of Local Public and Social Services in Europe : More Evidence for Better Results
RedaktørerIvan Kopric, Hellmut Wollmann, Gerard Marcou
Antal sider17
ForlagPalgrave Macmillan
Publikationsdato2017
Sider133-149
ISBN (Trykt)978-3-319-61090-0
ISBN (Elektronisk)978-3-319-61091-7
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2017
NavnGovernance and Public Management

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