Broadening the Focus of Public Service Consumerism

Abstract

The figure of the consumer has been central to the UK New Labour government's approach to reforming public services. However, this article is critical of the narrow debate of the Government and its critics around the consumer as chooser. It aims to broaden the debate by drawing attention to relatively neglected historical, geographical and conceptual material on consumerism in order to present a wider view of the consumer of public services.

Key words:

• Choice
• consumer
• public services
• typology

Acknowledgement

This work draws on an ESRC project on ‘Modes of Consumption in the UK Welfare State'.