Ten years after: The rise and fall of managerial autonomy in Pompeii

Abstract

In September 1997, an ad hoc law (Law no. 352/1997) gave archaeological site of Pompeii a new status. Its previous status as a local branch of Ministry of Culture (the Soprintendenza) was reconfigured as an autonomous entity (Soprintendenza autonoma). In July 2008, Italian Prime Minister declared a one year state of emergency in Pompeii, appointing a special Commissioner (Commissario straordinario) in order to cope with the serious critical situation of archeological area (OPCM 3692/2008). The aim of paper is to review process of change in Pompeii over ten years, observing major institutional transformations and analyzing evolution of activities and human and financial resources management. Beyond substantive elements of interest (the mis-management of one of most important archaeological sites in world), paper sheds lights on role of accountability in cultural sector and on distinctive features of Italian public administration, questioning existence of a path of international convergence in public sector change. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Author keywords Accountability; Arts management; Italy; New public management; Public sector