Using IG to understand the stakeholder engagement in decision-making process: evidence from Italy

The involvement of specific interest groups in regulatory decision-making, including stakeholders and citizens, is emerging as a critical aspect in the construction of democratic processes. The participation of stakeholders and citizens in decision-making processes is essential for achieving high-quality decisions. Over the last two decades, citizen and stakeholder participation in public decision-making has gained prominence on the agendas of regional administrations. The paper analyzes the institutional framework through which some of the Italian regional governments establish their relationship with citizens by concurrently considering the policy instruments and legal mechanisms to facilitate the processes through which new laws and regulations are developed, implemented, and evaluated.