SAVAS, E.S
Competition and choise in New York City social services
- Malden, MA : Blackwell Publishers, jan./feb.2002
Privatization is intended to improve public services by introducing competition and choise. Does privatization of social services result in competition? To answer this studies New York City's experience with contracts for three services: shelters for homeless adults, home care, and employment training. A total of 132 contract awards to nonprofit agencies were examined. The evidence suggests the procurement procedures were competitive and followed a good practices. There was significant competition in terms of the number of announcements issued, the number of requests for proposals distributed, and the number of proposals ultimately submitted - an average of 2.48 proposals per award. Contracting for homeless shelters has produced a voucher-like system with desirable features. Vouchers are also used for some employment training and could be used for home care. Such systems can introduce even more competition and choise for clients of social services. Problems of contracting with nonprofit agencies are reviewed