From rules to collaborative practice: When regulatory mechanisms drive collective co-production

The paper develops an analysis of latent spaces of co-production enacted by the government. Based on a survey and interviews, the authors identified the elements of co-production logics which emerged from the interactions of members of Brazilian municipal health councils. Collective co-production emerges when members adhere to a set of norms and values which are favourable to co-operation. The paper explains how councils’ regulatory mechanisms can drive the understanding of their members in relation to co-production and its benefits. IMPACT: Policy-makers and practitioners need to understand that enacting legal regulations to engage citizens in public services can be a double-edged sword. More than relying on citizens’ individual motivations, regulatory mechanisms must constantly promote citizens’ ability to fulfil their roles in a co-productive relationship. Additionally, these mechanisms should enable citizens to mobilize their relevant skills to actively engage with the public sector. When regulatory mechanisms fail to create and maintain these elements, unexpected and undesirable outcomes can emerge. This paper explains how these outcomes can be avoided.