Co-Production, Service Exchange Networks, and Social Capital

ABSTRACT Much social commentary has been written of late on the loss of mediating structures within communities and the resulting decline in social capital. One way to rebuild these structures is through a model known as co-production, which has been championedby attorney, Edgar Cahn. Co-production provides a vehicle by which community members can exchange services and build reciprocal relationships for mutual benefit. Economic value is accorded these services through a mechanism known as “time dollars.” This paper provides an overview of co-production models and examines the ways in which time dollars can be used to strengthen economic and social capital.