Managing Competition in City Services: The Case of Barcelona

:“Clean and safe” strategies are part of urban regeneration in the entrepreneurial city. These strategies are often characterized by privatization and public–private partnerships that enhance investment and create a city space more amenable to tourists and consumers. While such approaches promote increased investment, and differentiate services by district, they raise challenges of competition, cost escalation, and public participation. Barcelona’s solid waste management strategy is presented to show the importance of a strong public coordination role when using competition to promote technological innovation and improved quality in city service delivery.