Explaining municipalities' (alternative) service delivery modes over time. The importance of coercive pressures. Issue 4 (4th July 2022) - Vos, David
ABSTRACT: Extant research explains why municipalities choose certain service delivery modes over others, but that research is mostly static and pays little attention to the impact of central governmental policy. This study aims to overcome these limitations by employing a longitudinal multiple-case study design and bringing in new institutional theory. This research uncovers and explains delivery modes used for household waste collection in nine Flemish municipalities from the 1960s onwards. It builds on well-known public choice and transaction cost motives on alternative delivery modes, but expands the set by looking at coercive isomorphism for additional explanatory power. The analysis reveals that, in addition to the importance of fiscal and economic efficiency motives, the choices made by the municipalities over time are profoundly influenced by (the evolution of) coercive pressures from the central government on the service characteristics.