Apprentice Sorcerers. Evaluating the Program Theory of Regulatory Governance in Italian Public Utilities

The article aims at evaluating the process and the impact of the regulatory design in Italian Local Public Utilities (LPU) following a Program Theory Evaluation Approach. After having examined the shortcomings that affect both the reforms and policy results in the fields of water service, waste management and local transports, the authors suggest a softer, bottom-up driven approach to a new management of local public utilities, as well as a more serious commitment at the central level in terms of addresses, steering and supervision.