authors

Graziella FORNENGO
Università di Torino, Dipartimento di Economia Cognetti de Martiis

Cristina BARGERO
 

In the paper we discuss the economic role of a hybrid  organisation called ATI ( a temporary association of firms) originally developed within the construction industry and  now widely diffused in the local  public transport  sector, at least in  Piedmont. Within the organisation the transactions between the general contractor (usually a large firm)  and the other partners ( small and medium sized firms) seem quite hierarchical  and  only the general contractor is engaged in  market transactions with local public authorities on behalf of the whole association. These associations seem to have contributed  to enhance the competitiveness of the largest local firms outside the region and in the meantime have blocked any kind of  competition in Piedmont.