New Forms of Local Governance: A theoretical and empirical analysis of municipal corporations in Portugal

摘要: Abstract This article seeks to identify which factors lead local governments use corporate public sector organizations, particularly municipal corporations, for service delivery. The authors argue that officials trade off bureaucratic costs of in-house production with agency external delegation corporations when deciding how deliver services. Econometric models are employed test this explanation the adoption by 278 Portuguese governments. results indicate organizational size, financial independency and fiscal surplus, as well ideological concerns activity interest groups, drive choices governance structures.