Political coalitions, local leaders and the internationalization of local public services in Italy

The liberalization of European markets in the provision of public services led some utility companies to expand their domain beyond their national borders. However, the effect of internationalization on the governance of public services at the local level in the host countries remains understudied. The opening of public service markets and their internationalization change the circumstances in which local politicians make their decisions. Through the analysis of the interplay between institutional contexts and the strategies local actors, this article maps the processes underpinning the integration of foreign and domestic companies in the delivery of local services in Italy since the late 1990s, with a particular focus on water and transport.