Paolo Graziano (left), Simone Baglioni (centre), Laura Polverari (right)
Paolo Graziano, Professor of Political Science at the University of Padua, presented a recent publication, co-authored with Brian Terracciano, on the performance of the development policy for the Mezzogiorno from the analytical lens of regional administrative capacities.
In front of a numerous audience, Professor Graziano explained that, in line with the research findings of studies based on the national level, the research sought to test the hypothesis that administrative capacity is the most important explanatory factor of EU Cohesion policy implementation also at the regional level. This was done by adopting a ‘most similar research cases’ design approach, with reference to two Italian regions: Campania and Puglia.
Professor Graziano illustrated the way in which administrative capacity at the regional level was defined, operationalised and also quantified in the two cases examined, and concluded that, as anticipated, after controlling for other relevant variables (such as political stability, implementation procedures and financial constraints), a higher degree of administrative capacity at the regional level did in fact determine greater implementation performance.
He concluded that the methods and results from the study may travel well beyond the Italian case.
The full paper, published in Regional and Federal Studies in July 2016 (26: 3, 293-260), can be accessed from this link.
