Issue-specific knowledge and willingness to coproduce: the case of public security services

ABSTRACT

This study explores the role of issue-specific knowledge in citizens’ decisions regarding coproducing public services. We argue that issue-specific knowledge increases citizens’ perceived benefits and decreases their perceived risks during coproduction, thereby raising their willingness to coproduce the relevant public services. We use data from a national survey on security issues to test our argument. Results show that citizens with more knowledge about seven terror attacks between 2012 and 2016 are more supportive of stricter screening procedures in airports and stricter background checks for gun purchases despite the fact that they need to bear additional waiting time or privacy costs.

KEYWORDS:

• Issue knowledge
• citizen coproduction
• public security services

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Jeryl Mumpower and Dr. Kent Portney for providing access to the survey data and additional efforts and resources helpful to the conduct of this research. The authors also thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful feedback. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Note that different from public security service relevant to counter-terrorism, public security service relevant to community safety has received considerable attention since 1970s (Ostrom, Parks, and Whitaker 1973; Percy 1978; Rosentraub and Harlow 1983; Warren, Rosentraub, and Harlow 1984; Koven 1992).

2. The Screening Partnership Program of the Transportation Security Administration: https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/screening-partnerships.

Additional information

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number SES-1624296.

Notes on contributors

Youlang Zhang

Youlang Zhang, PhD, is an assistant professor in the School of Public Administration and Policy at Renmin University of China. His research interests encompass bureaucratic politics, policy process, citizen participation, and environmental and education policy. His recent publications have appeared in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Policy Studies Journal, Public Management Review, and International Public Management Journal.

Xinsheng Liu

Xinsheng Liu, PhD, is Research Scientist and Assistant Director of the Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. His recent publications have appeared in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Policy Studies Journal, Governance, and Risk Analysis.

Arnold Vedlitz

Arnold Vedlitz, PhD, is Professor, Distinguished Research Scholar of the Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy, and holder of the Bob Bullock Chair in Government and Public Policy, Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. His recent publications have appeared in American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, and Policy Studies Journal.