Conclusion

The concluding chapter provides an overview of the main findings that have emerged from our analysis, returning to and addressing the research questions posed in Chap. 1 . We begin by highlighting the tensions that emerged between Italy’s legacies of asymmetrical and competitive decentralization and the need for centralization and coordination in the first phases of the crisis. We then observe that, even at the peak of the first wave, some regional governments adopted notably distinct approaches to crisis management and tried to reassert their role in decision-making processes. Yet neither policy outputs nor actual health and economic outcomes unequivocally point to a single, best regional practice during the years 2020 and early 2021. For this reason, we also examine the way the crisis was communicated by regional governments and leaders, some of whom were able to exploit the visibility offered by pandemic-related interventions to boost their popularity and electoral support. Our analysis of survey data confirms the link between communication and public trust in regional leaders. Furthermore, it underscores that positive perceptions of regional governance significantly influence citizens’ attitudes towards decentralization. In our discussion of the key findings, we also offer reflections on the lessons that can be drawn from the Italian case, which may be applicable to other countries. Additionally, we suggest ideas for a broader, comparative research agenda.