Does Competition Enhance Service Quality?: Focusing on Interview with Voucher Service Supplier

Abstract

Choice and competition in voucher system are important factor for improving service quality and efficiency through market mechanism. The validity of theoretical assumption of voucher mechanism should be verified empirically but few research is found in domestic research. So this study analyzed the relation between competition, market formation and service quality in the field of social work practice with professional intervention. Service providers who have operated social service facility in Community-Development Voucher Service were interviewed and qualitative contents analysis was used as a research method suggested by Glaser and Laudel. According to the results of the analysis, this study identifies that the service quality is not guaranteed by the market mechanism through competition as the theoretical assumption and there are many factors in causal mechanism that competition affects service quality. On this analysis, the implication of voucher service policy was suggested.