Outsourcing

Outsourcing refers to the subcontracting or transfer of activities (production processes or services) previously performed within the unit under investigation to an external provider. In economic studies, the unit of analysis is normally a business, or sometimes a nation, so outsourcing refers to the subcontracting or transfer of activities previously performed within the business or nation to an external provider. In studies of consumption and consumer culture, in contrast, outsourcing is normally discussed in relation to the household as the unit of analysis, so outsourcing refers to the transfer of activities traditionally performed within the household on a self-servicing basis to external providers. Examples are domestic help, restaurant and take-out meals, daycare for children, and services in the realms of dog walking, personal shopping, lawn ...