Autonomia finanziaria degli enti locali e democrazia locale

The essay deals with the relationship between public finance and local democracy. Through a historical-constitutional analysis, an investigation on the contents of the budgets of local administrations, and on the constitutional jurisprudence following the constitutional reform of Title V and the crises of the Third Millennium, the A. shows the instability and uncertainty of the local public finance system and its consequences on local public administration. Nevertheless, the essay wants to clarify the value that the public budget, with its fundamental decisions on income and expenses, has for the quality of local democracy and for the effectiveness of the principles of representation and political responsibility.