Local government reforms in the Nordic countries. Bringing politics back in?

Abstract

Reputedly, a wave of market-oriented reform initiatives has hit local government in countries across the world. By some accounts, it may seem that local government, as we have known it, is coming to an end. The democratically run, public service-based and community-centred institution known as the municipality is being replaced by a series of service-peddling firms of doubtful accountability. The citizen is being replaced by the consumer. The manager is taking over from the politicians. A story such as this derives its credibility from the way local reform is being talked about these days. And I admit that the talk about reform is dominated by a New Public Management (NPM)-inspired terminology. However, the practice of reform is different. Practice is much more varied — and interesting — than the talk reveals. A much wider concept of change than that of NPM is needed to capture what municipalities are really up to. A closer scrutiny of reform initiatives in Nordic municipalities will demonstrate that, yes, change is happening all over the place, but the market does not rule unequivocally. Other, perhaps more interesting types of institutions are also being tried out.