Combining centralization and decentralization in danish public administration

Abstract

The Danish administration system underwent significant changes over time adapting to internal and external challenges such as administrative reforms and EU policy decisions. These challenges led to changes in the Danish administrative structures, which aimed to enhance efficiency, performance but also deliberation and steering by dialogue with the citizen. The administrative changes followed also international trends within the public administration such as New Public Management but also collaborative governance. They have been characterized both by centralization and decentralization, often combining top-down hierarchy steering with network governance characteristics. The most recent administrative reform that has been introduced in 2007 decreased the number of Municipalities and countries, increasing formally the level of centralization but also transferred competences from the regional to the local strengthening the role of the municipalities.