The document discusses recent municipal reforms in Finland that reduced the number of municipalities from 336 to around 110 through amalgamations. The arguments for amalgamation were that small municipalities were economically weak and unable to provide effective social services at sufficient scale. Evaluations found both benefits like increased expertise but also disadvantages like longer distances for clients. Further reforms aim for even larger municipalities but face opposition from municipal leaders who want more local autonomy over policies.
1. The document discusses coordination and collaboration between government agencies, focusing on different models used internationally.
2. It outlines standard coordination approaches, such as interdepartmental committees, and more innovative "joined-up government" methods involving horizontal collaboration across agencies.
3. Challenges of collaboration on complex, system-wide problems are examined through cases looking at coordination structure, accountability, and outcomes. Developing effective shared accountability remains difficult to implement fully at large scales.
Tom Christensen - "The Norwegian Central Administrative System: Development F...Institut za javnu upravu
The Norwegian central administrative system has developed gradually over time. Key developments include the establishment of ministries in 1814 and the introduction of agencies in the 1850s based on Swedish and Danish models. Since 1945, the system has grown significantly with increased specialization and more regulatory agencies. Reforms since the 1980s have aimed for more efficiency through structural changes, but also increased coordination. Maintaining political control while the system is decentralized and balancing autonomy with coordination are ongoing challenges. Typical Norwegian features include shared norms between political and administrative leaders, modified hierarchies, and autonomy for agencies within set goals.
Tom Christensen - "Comparative Public Sector Reforms - Perspectives and Exper...Institut za javnu upravu
This document discusses perspectives on comparative public sector reform. It covers the instrumental perspective that sees reform as achievable through reorganization, the cultural perspective that reform is an evolutionary process, and the myth perspective where reforms spread due to norms. New Public Management aimed for efficiency but faced challenges around political control and coordination. Post-NPM reforms emphasize strengthening central control and coordination in response to problems with NPM and a more insecure world. Future government may blend old, NPM, and post-NPM approaches, with both potential positive and negative effects.
Information on IPSA 2017 Conference "Looking Beyond the Crisis: Impact of Mass Migrations on the Local, Regional, National and EU Governance", 11-14 May 2017, Dubrovnik, Croatia
This document announces an international conference on decentralization policies to be held from May 7-10, 2015 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The conference is organized by several Croatian and international organizations and will explore recent decentralization reforms, including territorial restructuring, the democratizing effects of decentralization, and evaluations of current reforms. Accepted papers will be considered for publication in an international journal. The deadline for abstract submissions is January 31, 2015. The conference will take place at the Centre for Advanced Academic Studies in Dubrovnik and accommodation will be provided to invited speakers.
The document discusses recent municipal reforms in Finland that reduced the number of municipalities from 336 to around 110 through amalgamations. The arguments for amalgamation were that small municipalities were economically weak and unable to provide effective social services at sufficient scale. Evaluations found both benefits like increased expertise but also disadvantages like longer distances for clients. Further reforms aim for even larger municipalities but face opposition from municipal leaders who want more local autonomy over policies.
1. The document discusses coordination and collaboration between government agencies, focusing on different models used internationally.
2. It outlines standard coordination approaches, such as interdepartmental committees, and more innovative "joined-up government" methods involving horizontal collaboration across agencies.
3. Challenges of collaboration on complex, system-wide problems are examined through cases looking at coordination structure, accountability, and outcomes. Developing effective shared accountability remains difficult to implement fully at large scales.
Tom Christensen - "The Norwegian Central Administrative System: Development F...Institut za javnu upravu
The Norwegian central administrative system has developed gradually over time. Key developments include the establishment of ministries in 1814 and the introduction of agencies in the 1850s based on Swedish and Danish models. Since 1945, the system has grown significantly with increased specialization and more regulatory agencies. Reforms since the 1980s have aimed for more efficiency through structural changes, but also increased coordination. Maintaining political control while the system is decentralized and balancing autonomy with coordination are ongoing challenges. Typical Norwegian features include shared norms between political and administrative leaders, modified hierarchies, and autonomy for agencies within set goals.
Tom Christensen - "Comparative Public Sector Reforms - Perspectives and Exper...Institut za javnu upravu
This document discusses perspectives on comparative public sector reform. It covers the instrumental perspective that sees reform as achievable through reorganization, the cultural perspective that reform is an evolutionary process, and the myth perspective where reforms spread due to norms. New Public Management aimed for efficiency but faced challenges around political control and coordination. Post-NPM reforms emphasize strengthening central control and coordination in response to problems with NPM and a more insecure world. Future government may blend old, NPM, and post-NPM approaches, with both potential positive and negative effects.
Information on IPSA 2017 Conference "Looking Beyond the Crisis: Impact of Mass Migrations on the Local, Regional, National and EU Governance", 11-14 May 2017, Dubrovnik, Croatia
This document announces an international conference on decentralization policies to be held from May 7-10, 2015 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The conference is organized by several Croatian and international organizations and will explore recent decentralization reforms, including territorial restructuring, the democratizing effects of decentralization, and evaluations of current reforms. Accepted papers will be considered for publication in an international journal. The deadline for abstract submissions is January 31, 2015. The conference will take place at the Centre for Advanced Academic Studies in Dubrovnik and accommodation will be provided to invited speakers.