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The paradox of the modernisation of urban water systems in Europe: Intrinsic institutional limits for sustainability

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  • Thomas Bolognesi

    (équipe EDDEN - PACTE - Pacte, Laboratoire de sciences sociales - UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2 - UJF - Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 - IEPG - Sciences Po Grenoble - Institut d'études politiques de Grenoble - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This article assesses the sustainability potential of the urban water systems in Europe (UWSE) following their modernisation. A decade after implementation and close to the first deadlines, modernisation efforts seem to have not been (totally) successful. This article examines the ability of governance to achieve sustainability and poses the question of how modernisation develops a particular "terrain" more or less favourable to sustainability. We use the Institutional resource regimes framework which has been dedicated to determining the potential for sustainability of natural resources regulation. Conclusions show that the modernisation of UWSEs offers a path for progress which though necessary is insufficient due to a lack of coherence between policy design and the regulatory system. Globally, the development of regulation goes hand in hand with increasing inconsistencies that reduce the efficiency of the reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Bolognesi, 2014. "The paradox of the modernisation of urban water systems in Europe: Intrinsic institutional limits for sustainability," Post-Print halshs-01069895, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01069895
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12052
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    2. Thomas Bolognesi & Antoine Brochet & Yvan Renou, 2021. "Assessing socio-technical resistance to public policy instruments: Insights from water performance indicators in the Grenoble area (France)," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(7), pages 1407-1435, November.
    3. Thomas Bolognesi & Florence Metz & Stéphane Nahrath, 2021. "Institutional complexity traps in policy integration processes: a long-term perspective on Swiss flood risk management," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(4), pages 911-941, December.
    4. D'Amore, Gabriella & Landriani, Loris & Lepore, Luigi, 2021. "Ownership and sustainability of Italian water utilities: The stakeholder role," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Yvan Renou & Thomas Bolognesi, 2019. "Governing urban water services in Europe: Towards sustainable synchronous regimes," Post-Print halshs-01985168, HAL.
    6. Szabó, Iván & Garcia Quesada, Monica, 2017. "Historical waves in Hungarian water sector reform and implications for integration," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 15-21.

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