Nordic Local Governments: Post-War Development Trends and Reforms

Author: (Dan) Albecker
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Local government is an important component of a nation's political system. Without understanding the former, one cannot fully grasp the latter. Every country has only one central government but multiple local governments. Local governments are more closely connected to the daily lives of the people and have a more intimate relationship with diverse geographical and socio-ecological environments. The "Free Town Experiment" is a significant attempt by Nordic countries to explore local government models and also represents a key trend in post-war local government reforms in Western countries. This book takes the central-local relations in four Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden—since World War II as its research subject. It discusses the specific pathways through which Nordic countries implemented the welfare state model via welfare towns, following a country-by-country order. The book analyzes the administrative divisions, management structures, and fiscal reforms and adjustments during the expansion period of Nordic welfare states in the 1960s, aiming to focus on the following question: How can local government functions be expanded while relaxing regulation without sacrificing fundamental welfare and equality goals?