Il Living Lab. Quale strumento per le politiche pubbliche?

Since the 1970s, austerity policies and the shift from hierarchical government to network-based governance have encouraged public administrations to rethink traditional modes of intervention and to experiment with new policy tools. In this context, co-production has gained prominence as an approach that actively involves citizens in the design, delivery, and evaluation of public services. Among co-productive practices, Living Labs (LLs) have emerged as a widely adopted form of collaboration among public authorities, research institutions, private firms, and users, enabling the experimentation of solutions in real-life settings. Originally developed as user-centered research methodologies, LLs have progressively entered public policy agendas, particularly in Europe, where they are increasingly framed as policy instruments. Despite their diffusion, the distinctive features of Living Labs as policy tools remain insufficiently explored. This paper addresses this gap through a qualitative analysis that combines the literature on policy instruments, policy tool classifications, case studies, and Living Lab platforms. It examines the integration of LLs into public policies and assesses their main characteristics. The paper argues that Living Labs can be interpreted as "multidirectional and partially random" policy instruments, characterized by iterative engagement, flexibility, and openness to unanticipated inputs. While LLs show adaptive potential across policy domains, their efficiency and long-term impact on policy change remain uncertain, calling for further empirical investigation.