Abstract
The present research work is aimed at carrying out a in-depth examination of the forms of inter-municipal aggregation, with respect to the inter-municipal partnerships (Unioni di Comuni). The inter-municipal partnership is an institution consisting of two or more municipalities for the joint exercise of functions or services which normally lie within the competence of a single municipality. They benefit from statutory autonomy as regulated by constitutional principles and the European, Italian and regional laws. This phenomenon will be analyzed in the light of a theoretical framework that takes into account several theories: change management, collaborative management, shared services center, public management network, theory of incentives, mergers and acquisitions of companies. Inside this framework three cases of inter-municipal partnerships are examined: the inter-municipal partnership of Bassa Romagna, The Federation of Camposampierese and Grecia salentina. In the light of what has been described, some considerations are made to gain a bettere understanding the conditions for the choice of a form of supra-communal aggregation to pursue. Based on that conclusion there are some hypotheses on future developments of inter-municipal partnerships in Italy.