<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> In Europe, the amalgamation of local authorities is currently used to optimize public resources. Although amalgamation involves several advantages, it needs to fulfil three conditions to be considered successful. First, address local preferences and needs; second, be fair, transparent and accessible to citizens; and third, be a compromise between central and local political elites. In the current paper the fulfilling of these three conditions is analysed using the comprehensive, bottom-up, Finnish reform introduced during the period of 2008-2013. The findings conclude that while the Finnish local reform plan has been successful in reaching a compromise between local and central governments, it has failed insofar as it has not fulfilled the condition of making the process fair, transparent and accessible to citizens. Furthermore, whether the amalgamation has allowed local government to address citizens’ preferences and needs in a meaningful and responsive way has yet to be demonstrated.</p></abstract>

In Europe, the amalgamation of local authorities is currently used to optimize public resources. Although amalgamation involves several advantages, it needs to fulfil three conditions to be considered successful. First, address local preferences and needs; second, be fair, transparent and accessible to citizens; and third, be a compromise between central and local political elites. In the current paper the fulfilling of these three conditions is analysed using the comprehensive, bottom-up, Finnish reform introduced during the period of 2008-2013. The findings conclude that while the Finnish local reform plan has been successful in reaching a compromise between local and central governments, it has failed insofar as it has not fulfilled the condition of making the process fair, transparent and accessible to citizens. Furthermore, whether the amalgamation has allowed local government to address citizens’ preferences and needs in a meaningful and responsive way has yet to be demonstrated.

Reshaping local borders in Europe today. A critical reflection founded on an analysis of the case of Finland

Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Environmental Informatics Research Group, University of Eastern Finland,

Department of Geography, University of Barcelona,

Miscellanea Geographica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

In Europe, the amalgamation of local authorities is currently used to optimize public resources. Although amalgamation involves several advantages, it needs to...

Reshaping local borders in Europe today. A critical reflection founded on an analysis of the case of Finland

Published Online: Mar 31, 2017

Page range: 19 - 24

Received: Sep 29, 2016

Accepted: Dec 28, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0001

Keywords
Amalgamation, local reform, Finnish local administration, local policy

© by Albacete Xavier

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Reshaping local borders in Europe today. A critical reflection founded on an analysis of the case of Finland

Published Online: Mar 31, 2017

Page range: 19 - 24

Received: Sep 29, 2016

Accepted: Dec 28, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0001

KeywordsAmalgamation, local reform, Finnish local administration, local policy

© by Albacete Xavier

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Amalgamation, local reform, Finnish local administration, local policy