Central government
Government shapes markets in all sorts of sectors. If it adopted a joined-up marketplace policy it could use this activity to create new marketplaces for much wider benefit.
Self management of public services
A relief teacher for half a day. An assignment for a graffiti clean-up team. The afternoon shift at a County Library. A lifeguarding session at the swimming pool. An hour’s visit from a home help. Patrols by Street Wardens. A check-up at the dentist. Saturday afternoon in the Council contact centre. All these public service tasks require a Sliver-of-Time from a worker.
Public services is already one vast market of periods of time from suitably qualified and equipped workers. Parts of this may be more effectively delivered by local people selling their time to government. Or the workers may sell to local people who have control of their own budgets.
One example of a possible government marketplace: self-management of local services. A parish council have been given a budget to purchase the time of verified street wardens, youth workers and other workers. Any resident can check booking details on the Council website.
It’s a different model for public services, only now viable. Achieving it could cost nothing. The private sector might be encouraged to compete to deliver a co-ordinated marketplace for such a huge section of the economy. Operators’ returns could come on a small transaction charge within each booking.
Marketplace policy
If government is to really deliver a coherent approach to the potential of e-marketplaces it needs to think beyond public services. Policymakers need to understand:
How new marketplaces could tackle a spectrum of problems
What these marketplaces require before they can get going
Government’s role as catalyst for new types of marketplace.
All this is explained in our 2010 paper for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Benefits
- Expanded economic opportunity. We may be entering an era where trying to get everyone into jobs is hopeless. “Some work is better than none” could be the new focus. A system of National E-Markets could offer anyone the means to trade their time and their possessions in new ways.
- National competitiveness. A system of national markets would foster a workforce with broad ranging skills that could be booked swiftly.
- Community cohesion. By driving localised economic activity, these markets would create networks of people providing services around their communities.
Next steps
We have talked to governments about this possibility over the years. A coherent approach to new marketplaces would cut across multiple departments. That takes time. Now we are seeking a large organisation to partner with us to systematically outreach to key governments.
