Abstract

Regional economics and economic sociology are strongly claiming the need to conduct empirical research on Communities, considered as the most significant expressions of collective and informal action in contemporary cities. They are considered important because they make up an essential portion of the practices that coordinate the actors of a complex regional industrial organizational ecology. On such bases, the adoption of a network approach and motivational analysis of links has been recommended for empirical analysis. The aim of this study is to provide a contribution on this matter through an updated reading of the incentive question and a possible application of the same to an empirical case. The comparison between the theoretical elements and those derived from the observed reality, featured by the communities inspired to the principle of common goods in Naples, will allow us to draw some conclusions. In particular, the advantages/ disadvantages of the individual’s adherence to the communities and of the latter to the local network established with public institutions will be highlighted. Finally, some hypotheses on the future evolution of the observed network will be formulated in terms of reciprocity in the definition of the critical tasks.