The Way Out from the Public Sector’s Labyrinth of Inefficiency? Alternative Governance Performance and Prospects in Greece

This chapter presents empirical research analyses and evaluates according to primary empirical data the viability and effectiveness of the alternative institutional arrangement for municipal services provision in the distinctive environment of Greek local government. The alternative provision appears to lead to cost reduction and quality improvement in most case studies analyzed, assuming, however, the appearance of a series of determinant factors of services performance, relating to the level of the competition and mainly the establishment of relationships of trust, mutual collaboration, engagement, and common culture among the partners and the stakeholders. Factors that transform the alternative provision from a simple cost rationalization tool into a promotion catalyst of a new governance model in Greek local government.