Can amalgamations deliver? Barriers to local government mergers from an historical institutionalist perspective

Municipal amalgamations raise high expectations, but often do not deliver as expected. This paper analyses how pre-existing institutional and service delivery arrangements influence the expected outcomes of amalgamations in terms of cost reductions and service delivery enhancement. In the light of an historical institutionalist background, the authors analyse five cases of voluntary mergers in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, between 2014 and 2017. The findings contribute to research on local government consolidation and to the analysis of reform implementation and policy change where intent, process and uncertainty play a crucial role.