Abstract
The chapter provides an overview of the municipal structures, reform objectives, strategies, patterns of conflicts, and outcomes associated with amalgamation reforms in European countries on the basis of the perception of country experts. The results indicate that the objectives of amalgamation reforms primarily concern efficiency and service delivery criteria. The amalgamation strategies chosen by the countries are very heterogeneous. Whereas some countries chose top-down strategies with intervention from the central government, others prefer bottom-up strategies. Patterns of conflict during amalgamation processes are primarily related to the divide between central and local government as well as between small and large municipalities. The results indicate that the most important outcomes are improved service quality and, to some extent, cost savings.
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Steiner, R., Kaiser, C., Eythórsson, G.T. (2016). A Comparative Analysis of Amalgamation Reforms in Selected European Countries. In: Kuhlmann, S., Bouckaert, G. (eds) Local Public Sector Reforms in Times of Crisis. Governance and Public Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52548-2_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52548-2_2
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