A new report published this week by the RSA, Collaborate, the Local Government Association, the ESRC and Impower, argues that by 2020 public services will be about managing demand rather than supply. At the core is the importance of quality research to identify how to manage demand.

“‘Beyond Nudge to Managing Demand’ argues that we urgently need to give demand management serious consideration if we are to avoid a situation of managed decline. The paper looks at the scale of the challenge that public service agencies currently face; explores what is already being done in demand management and why it has not been mainstreamed further; and asks how new relationships between the state, citizens and communities can overcome these barriers.”

There has also been further discussion on the Guardian Public Leaders Network. 

Photo credit: Queue for the Apple 4 taken by Mohamed Nanabhay