Social outcomes contracting: Seeding a more relational approach to contracts between government and the social economy?

This chapter, in the book "Social Economy Science: Transforming the Economy and Making Society More Resilient", explores cross-sector partnerships and collaboration as a potential approach through which to tackle longstanding and entrenched social challenges. In social outcomes contracts these partnerships bring together actors from the public sector, private sector, and social economy. The chapter draws on a range of literature describing partnerships and governance arrangements and utilizes the concept of formal relational contracting as a form of partnership that might better suit the provision of complex services in the social economy, where adaptation and innovation are essential. The chapter describes the adoption of social impact bonds and also offers case studies to contrast outcomes-based and alliance-based contracting arrangements. A focus on measurable outcomes may offer a way to bring together different parts of social economy, government, and the private sector around a shared definition of success, underpinned by relationships.