Title: Local governments during the pandemic: shifting the S.M.A.R.T paradigm

Authors: Francesca Loia; Gennaro Maione

Addresses: Department of Economics, Management and Institutions University of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy ' Department of Business Science-Management and Innovation Systems, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

Abstract: Due to the pandemic, new challenges and opportunities are emerging for local governments (LGs) in terms of digital growth for smart, sustainable, accountable, and interconnected cities. Starting from these considerations, the paper aims to contribute to the debate on the new connotations of the smart city paradigm due to the spread of COVID-19, by identifying new key elements and common areas of application of smart cities initiatives coming out in the current scenario, in addition to those identified by the consolidated literature. The study in based on a qualitative investigation approach that employs the multiple case study methodology. Interviews with directors, managers and technicians of LGs shed light on new categories connected to the smart city paradigm due to the pandemic situation which, combined, allow 'transforming' the acronym of S.M.A.R.T. into a new one here proposed: safety; mitigation; accountability; resilience; and traceability.

Keywords: LGs; smart city; digital technologies; COVID-19; pandemic; multiple case study; safety; mitigation; accountability; resilience; traceability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2023.133120

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2023 Vol.26 No.3, pp.375 - 388

Received: 17 May 2021
Accepted: 21 Jul 2021
Published online: 01 Sep 2023 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article