Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Maria De Paola Title: Un paternalista democratico Abstract: Un paternalista democratico (di Maria De Paola) - ABSTRACT: In this paper the desirability of a paternalistic intervention, given the hypothesis of not perfectly rational habit forming preferences, is analysed. When individuals are unable to forecast the intensity of their own future preferences, the traditional correspondence between preferences and welfare is not warranted and a paternalistic intervention might generate an increase in individuals? well-being. However, this result does not hold if the paternalist, following his own interests, behaves opportunistically. In this case, his promise to pursue the collective well-being is not credible. The paper shows that individuals might accept a less demanding guarantee that requires the paternalist to choose in order to achieve a result that is no worse than the result individuals would attain if they choose autonomously. The credibility of this promise is obtained through the threat to dismiss the paternalist from his assignment if after a certain period his choice does not agree with individuals? preferences. Besides, it is argued that, under certain conditions (individuals? ex-post awareness of their mistakes and harmonised timing of the election date and the changes in individuals? preferences) the appointment of the paternalist might prevent his opportunism and guarantee the pursuit of the maximisation of collective welfare. JEL D70 D60 D11 D19 Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages: Volume: 2001/4 Year: 2001 Issue:4 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=16198&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:epepep:v:html10.3280/Ep2001-004001 Number: 1 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lorenzo Bardelli Author-Name: Nicola Doni Title: Analisi di diverse procedure di affidamento della gestione dei servizi pubblici Abstract: Analisi di diverse procedure di affidamento della gestione dei servizi pubblici locali (di Lorenzo Bardelli e Nicola Doni) - ABSTRACT: This paper is about franchise contracts, and considers simultaneously both the economic literature on Demsetz competition and on transaction cost economics, and some Italian organizational experiences in Public Utility sectors. Our theoretic and case study analyses cover the following subjects: the analysis of franchise contracts; the study of bidding procedures designed to award franchise contracts; and, with reference to public private partnerships, the selection of the private partner through auction procedure. This paper analyzes the differences among the above institutional solutions, and highlights the pros & cons of each solution. JEL L14 L43 L95 Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages: Volume: 2001/4 Year: 2001 Issue:4 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=16199&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:epepep:v:html10.3280/Ep2001-004002 Number: 2 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Giuseppe Ciaccio Author-Name: Giovanni Serio Title: La gestione dei servizi pubblici locali in Sicilia Abstract: La gestione dei servizi pubblici locali in Sicilia (di Giuseppe Ciaccio e Giovanni Serio) - ABSTRACT: The paper examines the main local public services in Sicily (water, transportation, energy, house refuse removal and street cleaning service), whose reform is increasingly perceived as a key step towards the competitiveness of local economic areas. An overview on the forms of supply of local services (by municipalities, municipal firms or private suppliers) in towns with over 20.000 inhabitants is provided; then we analyse the efficiency and performance indicators in every utility and compare those of Sicilian "aziende speciali" (local government firms) with national benchmarks. Our results show that most local public suppliers have recently undertaken management reform programs in order to streamline their organisation and improve their quality standards. Yet, the results are still to come and the innovation processes are slow and often ineffective if compared with those of other regions: prices in water and gas supply sectors are among the highest in Italy. Productivity indicators are consistently below the average of the country. As a result consumers, firms and municipal budget bear the consequences in terms of social welfare, competitiveness and local public expenditure. JEL L90 L33 Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages: Volume: 2001/4 Year: 2001 Issue:4 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=16200&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:epepep:v:html10.3280/Ep2001-004003 Number: 3 Template-type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Angela Testi Author-Name: Marco Benacchio Title: Pianificazione dei posti letto di un reparto ospedaliero via simulazione Abstract: Pianificazione dei posti letto di un reparto ospedaliero via simulazione (di Angela Testi e Marco Benacchio) - ABSTRACT: Public resources devoted to health care sector are becoming more and more scarce, whereas demand for health is increasing rapidly. In order to minimize the unavoidable consequential reduction in the service provided to the community, efforts are made to use available resources as effectively as possible to satisfy the need of the population. What is usually lacking in planning the optimal allocation of scarce resources is the consideration of the stochastic nature of the demand and of the supply. A simulation model is proposed to take into account these characteristics in order to fine tune the planning of hospital beds. To explain how this model may help planners an observational study on the actual situation of two Stroke Units in public Italian Hospital has been developed. JEL I18 C80 Classification-JEL: Keywords: Note: Pages: Volume: 2001/4 Year: 2001 Issue:4 File-URL:http://www.francoangeli.it/riviste/Scheda_Rivista.aspx?IDArticolo=16201&Tipo=Articolo PDF File-Format: text/HTML Handle: RePEc:fan:epepep:v:html10.3280/Ep2001-004004 Number: 4