Municipal Amalgamations and the Democratic Functioning of Local Councils: The Case of The Danish 2007 Structural Reform

TY - JOUR

T1 - Municipal Amalgamations and the Democratic Functioning of Local Councils

T2 - The Case of The Danish 2007 Structural Reform

AU - Kjær, Ulrik

AU - Hjelmar, Ulf

AU - Olsen, Asmus Leth

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - This article discusses the effects of the structural reform in Denmark in 2007 - where a large number of municipalities were amalgamated - on local councillors' influence on decisions taken in the local political realm. The analysis uses data from two large surveys, a pre-reform survey (2003) and a post-reform survey (2009). The analysis shows that the amalgamations have led to an increase in the perceived influence of leading councillors vis-a-vis other councillors and a decrease in the perceived influence of the council vis-a-vis its top administrative officers. Furthermore, it is found that there is an increase in the number of councillors who find that local political decisions are determined by laws and rules from central government, but at the same time it is shown that this increase cannot be ascribed to the amalgamations.

AB - This article discusses the effects of the structural reform in Denmark in 2007 - where a large number of municipalities were amalgamated - on local councillors' influence on decisions taken in the local political realm. The analysis uses data from two large surveys, a pre-reform survey (2003) and a post-reform survey (2009). The analysis shows that the amalgamations have led to an increase in the perceived influence of leading councillors vis-a-vis other councillors and a decrease in the perceived influence of the council vis-a-vis its top administrative officers. Furthermore, it is found that there is an increase in the number of councillors who find that local political decisions are determined by laws and rules from central government, but at the same time it is shown that this increase cannot be ascribed to the amalgamations.

U2 - 10.1080/03003930.2010.494112

DO - 10.1080/03003930.2010.494112

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0300-3930

VL - 36

SP - 569

EP - 585

JO - Local Government Studies

JF - Local Government Studies

IS - 4

ER -