The market of urban services is been transformed by process like privatization, deregulation and globalization. This changes bring about a crucial question: how to guarantee citizens' rights and efficiency within the private sector together with spatial equity? The state needs to build up polices able to maintain principles like continuity, regularity, equality of access, non-discrimination, non-exclusion and collective interest of the public services, together with the control of social role of the public services. The role of social regulation in the maintenance of the balance between actors with controversial objectives and strategies is crucial. This article deals with the current development of the public services. Furthermore, it evaluates the likely results of the public services shaped according to this new format. It searches also to open some perspectives for the understanding of the new management features of the public services.
public management; public services; social regulation; privatization; spatial equity
