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The paradox of the modernisation of urban water systems in E urope: Intrinsic institutional limits for sustainability
Author(s) -
Bolognesi Thomas
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/1477-8947.12052
Subject(s) - modernization theory , sustainability , urban sustainability , corporate governance , resource (disambiguation) , business , economic system , environmental economics , economics , economic growth , computer science , ecology , computer network , finance , biology
This article assesses the sustainability potential of the urban water systems in E urope ( UWSE ) following their modernisation. A decade after implementation and close to the first deadlines, modernisation efforts seem to have not been (totally) successful. This article examines the ability of governance to achieve sustainability and poses the question of how modernisation develops a particular “terrain” more or less favourable to sustainability. We use the Institutional resource regimes framework which has been dedicated to determining the potential for sustainability of natural resources regulation. Conclusions show that the modernisation of UWSEs offers a path for progress which though necessary is insufficient due to a lack of coherence between policy design and the regulatory system. Globally, the development of regulation goes hand in hand with increasing inconsistencies that reduce the efficiency of the reform.