Competing logics in the expansion of public service corporations

This paper contributes to the current debate on the evolving nature and meaning of public service corporations. It draws upon notions of neo-institutional theory and adopts a case study methodology. The study focuses on the case of SMAT, an Italian water corporation, whose value has been recognized at home and internationally. Findings show how a public service corporation's priorities and activities, particularly commercialization and internationalization, are constrained by various factors. These include: the burden of regulatory frameworks, the public nature of the corporation and its governance, the expectations of users, and the need for infrastructural investment.