A different role of taxation. Using fiscal leverage as an incentive to foster regeneration of common goods and improve the performance of public governance

The paper analysis the possibility of using fiscal leverage as an incentive to foster policy of regeneration of common goods. Regeneration of urban goods and spaces not only shows some points in common with the so-called circular economy, but – trough the role played by private citizens who, by substituting or collaborating with public administrations, participate in reuse of goods and urban spaces – may also be considered as an efficient example of public and private cooperation, aiming to improve the level of well-being of the community. Thus, it may be argued that regeneration and taxation have an, at least partially, coinciding aim. Both pursue a general interest: regeneration in a mostly definite and direct way; taxation in a mostly expanded and indirect way. Is it then possible using fiscal leverage as a tool to foster regeneration activities? The example of environmental taxes shows that is possible to use taxation not only pursuing typical purpose of collecting revenue, but also aiming to directly achieve a public interest or benefit, that is not unrelated to taxes and has become part of their structure and purpose. This different purpose of taxation can be pursued both burdening activities that contrast with public interests (that is what environmental taxes do), and using tax benefits to foster activities that pursue public interests (such as the regeneration of common goods). To reach this goal we need a different bottom-up perspective, in which tax policies concerning tax benefits are not decided at the top of public authorities but come from collaboration agreements between public and private bodies. This article deepen this last issue.