Decentralisation is now taking place in the public administrations of most countries of the world. This book explores the variety of methods used to ensure that

This title was first published in 2000: This text collects a set of specially commissioned chapters by British and German political scientists as well as expert

This book addresses two issues related to the structure of local government: the determinants of consolidation and the potential impact of consolidation on loca

`Its strength lies in combining theoretical insights with an impressive range of empirical material. The analysis is subtle and multi-layered.... This is a time

What are public health services? Countries across Europe understand what they are or what they should include differently. This study describes the experiences