The so‑called remunicipalization of local public services. Some con‑ ceptual clarifications

Abstract

Public services and their modes of exercise have evolved over time. In the last years, after a period in favor of the indirect management, it is growing the idea of recovering direct management of public services, the so‑called “remunicipalization”. This article pursues to clarify the concepts employed in this process with the aim of improving the assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the new trend. Finally, the article argues in favour of avoiding ideological and maximalist stances on each form of management. To the contrary, the article takes into account many factors and a case analysis perspective for choosing between direct and indirect management.

Keywords:

municipalization, privatization, economic and financial rescue, reinternalization, remunicipalization, public service