The book investigates public management and – more extensive – public governance innovations introduced in Italy in the past three decades. Empirical evidence on the content and strategies of reform is provided and the Italian specificities are highlighted. Public sector innovation in Italy has not benefited from a sustained political support and the wide–ranging agenda of reforms has suffered an “implementation gap”, characterizing legalistic countries. A particularly strong dynamism and vivacity of innovation has been registered in local services, healthcare and social assistance, education and cultural heritage management. In these sectors, the regional and local governments have developed relevant capacities of network management. A differentiated approach to innovation – in terms of speed and degree of change – in the different geographical areas and levels of government can be observed. It can be fully understood only by taking into consideration the administrative culture and history of our country. Denita Cepiku, PhD, is researcher in public administration and management at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. She has been assistant to the Chair of the Public Governance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from 2002 to 2006.Marco Meneguzzo is professor in public and non profit management at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and at the University of Lugano (Switzerland).Mariastefania Senese, holds a PhD in public administration and management. She works as assistant at the public management chair at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. In 2007, she worked as a consultant at the Division for Public Administration and Development Management, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations.
