This paper examines why Italian public administrations increasingly rely on external management consulting services. Drawing on institutional theory and resource dependence perspectives, we analyze how regulatory complexity, digital transformation gaps, and EU funding requirements shape consulting demand. Our findings reveal that structural constraints within the public sector, rather than mere efficiency considerations, primarily drive this phenomenon. The research contributes to understanding the evolving relationship between state capacity and private expertise in contemporary governance.
Keywords: public sector consulting, Italian public administration, institutional change
Paglieri L., Scalabrini F., Bonomi S. A. (2026), Filling in or Hollowing Out? Exploring the Motivations and Effects of the Use of External Consulting in the Italian Public Sector, Azienda Pubblica, 1, pp. 215-232, Doi: 10.30448/AP.2026.1.08
