Norwegian experiences with local government Jon Naustdalslid Norwegian

Norwegian experiences with local government Jon Naustdalslid Norwegian institute for urban and regional research Paper prepared for Governance International Network International Annual Conference - 2009 Islamabad 13 -15 December 2009

Forms of decentralisation • • Political decentralisation Administrative decentralisation Sector decentralisation Integrated decentralisation

Types of decentralisation Political Local sector adm. Sector Integrated Administrative Local government Prefect

Advantages and disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages Administrative sector decentralisation Uniform and standardised services Simpler to transfer policies from central to local level Simpler to penetrate local resistance Co-ordination across sectors a problem More difficult to take into account local variation Lack of democratic basis (legitimacy) Administrative integrated decentralisation Facilitates cross sector coordination. Facilitates state control at local level (penetrate local resistance to change) May impede co-ordination across levels of government i. e. : standardisation of service delivery Lack of democratic basis (legitimacy) Local Government Local democracy. Takes local conditions into account Improves legitimacy of government policies Unpredictability. Fragmentation of national unity May lead to inequality – variations in implementation of services May impede effective implementation of central gov. policies (local power elite may take control)

Norwegian experiences • • • Phase 1: minimum LG Phase 2: expansion Phase 3: depression and set back Phase 4: the welfare state Phase 5: LG under stress The future: New reforms and new roles?

Experiences • LG part of the total system of gov. – co-exists with other forms of decentralised gov • Close relationships between social and economic development and LG • ”Tug og war” between state and LG • Strong LG based on strong civil society • Role of LG changes over time – gradual growth