RELEVANCE OF WESTERN EUROPEAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM ON TRANSITION COUNTRIES – WHO LEARNS WHAT FROM WHOM?

The chapter introduces a conceptual framework of the main driven shifts brought by the public management reforms and the diffusion of innovation in public administration through best practice transfer among countries. In addressing the objectives, the research explores the main public administration reform strategies in Italy and Romania, pointing out: 1) the public sector innovation programs, drivers and trends of development; 2) the best practice transfer and learning from one national setting to another, through “Cento Progetti al Servizio dei Cittadini in Italy” and“100 proiecte in Romania”. The findings sketch out the relevance of the NPM model in the policy agenda and its implementation gaps at various levels and areas of reform, though the lens of specific projects of innovation dissemination.