Self-Government in the Nordic Countries

The public administration in the Nordic countries has specific elements due to both the geographical conditions, as a result of the location of these territories on Europe’s map (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden), and the way in which the lawmakers in these countries designed the structure of their countries. In this study, we are presenting how the territorial division was achieved over time and the administrative reforms through which the administrations in the Nordic countries achieved local government processes, more efficiently and closer to the citizens, and made smart approaches to public spending. The establishment, organization and functioning of the local government bodies, as well as the reflection of both the decentralization principles and the local autonomy in the northern communities is another aspect we are highlighting in this study. The way in which the competencies are allocated to the central government and the local communities reflects the extent to which the local public administration authorities manage to meet the interests of the citizens in the local communities.