The effects of the reform of the judicial map on the functioning of civil justice

Abstract

The paper evaluates the impact of the reform of the judicial map on the functioning of Italian civil justice. Implemented between 2013 and 2014, the reform abolished all branch offices and merged several small first-instance courts, substantially increasing the size of judicial districts and the scale at which civil justice services are provided. According to our findings, the reform led to a reduction in the demand for justice, plausibly due to higher access costs associated with increased distances to the courts. This decline was particularly pronounced in case types where claimants exercise greater discretion or where alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are available. On the supply side, the reform increased the number of cases resolved and reduced their average duration. These improvements were more pronounced in initially less efficient courts and in more complex case types, which benefited the most from the increased scale and specialization.