Italian Municipalities and the Fiscal Crisis: Four Strategies for Muddling Through

Through a multiple case study of eight Italian municipalities, our paper identifies the main shocks perceived by the local management as a consequence of the recent fiscal crisis and the related organizational responses. The analysis roots current responses in longer-term municipal financial management and strategies. Even in a context where the shocks are described and identified as being much the same, there is not a single pattern of response, but (at least) four different ways of reacting to shocks can be identified: reorientation, buffering, continuous adjustment, avoiding problems and catching opportunities.