Implementing Regulatory Reforms in Multi-Level Governance Systems : The Case of the Reform of the Water Sector in Italy (1994-2006)

Within the field of regulation policy and politics, scholarly works have widely examined policy cycles to liberalize, re-regulate and privatize large-scale infrastructure-based public service industries. Relatively little attention has been placed, however, on the jagged and ineffectual regulatory reforms which especially take place when the implementation process requires mutual adjustment among public authorities situated at different levels of the governmental system. This paper aims to contribute filling this gap by conducting an exploratory case study based on the implementation stage of the 12 year long (1994-2006) policy cycle to liberalize, re-regulate, and privatize Italy's (drinking water and waste) water sector. The main explanatory issues tackled here refer to variation of the implementation trajectory over time (a period of faltering and obstructed implementation was followed by one of accelerated progression) and across regions (especially, the implementation progressed more rapidly in Tuscany then elsewhere in the country). On the basis of the explanation of the case, this study allows qualifying existing theories about causal tendencies in the implementation stage of policy cycles to liberalize, re-regulate, and privatize infrastructure industries