The effect of treating public services as commodities.

Spicker, Paul

Abstract

Within the frame of orthodox economics, only market allocations can be efficient, and markets can achieve any desired outcome. Public services, however, operate by criteria which are not satisfied by market allocations, including the requirements of policy (such as targeting, universality and equity), cost-effectiveness, and conformity with the requirements of democratic government (such as accountability and prior authorization). The efficient delivery of commercialized services depends on commoditization—standardizing commodities so that they can be traded on equivalent terms. That process changes the nature and character of what is provided, and compromises the effectiveness and quality of public services.

Citation

SPICKER, P. 2024. The effect of treating public services as commodities. Public money and management [online], 44(4) : treating public goods and services as commodities; winners and losers, pages 281-288. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2023.2240641

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2023
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 9, 2023
• Journal: Public money and management
• Print ISSN: 0954-0962
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-9302
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 43
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 281-288
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2023.2240641
• Keywords: Commoditization; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Marketization; Public services
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2028598