Journal Articles

Landscapes of Remunicipalization: A Critical Literature Review

Author:

David A McDonald

Year:

2024

Publisher:

Urban Affairs Review

Number of pages:

Available languages:

Available Formats:

PDF (EN)

Abstract

After four decades of privatization, remunicipalization has begun to reverse the trend. This policy phenomenon has been accompanied by a concomitant growth in academic writing on the topic, documenting a wide range of dynamics from different conceptual and methodological viewpoints, resulting in what many see to be a highly polarized debate. This article provides the first comprehensive review of this remunicipalization literature, providing critical insights into its schisms and overlaps, arguing that differences may not be as irreconcilable as some suggest, while also highlighting the need for an expanded scope of geographic and thematic research on the topic.