Governance robustness put to the test by Covid-19. The case of Local Area Plans in the Lombardy Region

ABSTRACT

This article, using the concept of governance robustness, will study the reaction to Covid-19 of a peculiar system of local governance of social assistance; the Italian Local Area Plan (LAP). The article aims to fill the research gap on how a governance system can face external pressure and turbulent events by relying on adaptability and flexibility. In particular, the case of Lombardy, the European region most affected by the first pandemic wave, will be analysed using a survey conducted on 91 LAPS. The article will show how LAPS proved to possess a relevant degree of robustness and were able to effectively resist the external shock of Covid-19 without governance disruption, guaranteeing not simply continuity but also several strategies of adaptability and innovation.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• robust governance
• public management
• local welfare
• local governance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 We are aware that several factors could have positively influenced such high response rate like the direct interest in this topic by the LAPs’ directors.

2 The sum is more than 81 because every respondent had the possibility to choose more than one option.

3 The sum is more than 81 because every respondent had the possibility to choose more than one option.