Paper
Regional Government in the Netherlands: Recent Developments Compared to Its Position in the Regional Authority Index
- Authors:
- Michiel S. de Vries
- Abstract
- Dutch regional government (provinces) poses an interesting case in that its powers and authority are in decline, whereas in most countries regional governments gain in importance. This decline is not visible in international comparative databases, such as the widely used Regional Authority Index, because formally the power and authority of Dutch provinces are stable. In reality, the provinces are squeezed between expanding municipalities, which cooperate in regional arrangements, but not with the provinces and on the other side Central Government. As a result, the Provinces lost their functions in the social domain, and lack taxing authority. Based on time-series, white papers and actual policies, this article investigates the development in the position of the provinces in the last six years. It concludes that there is an awkward reality behind their position in the middle of international indexes. A reality, that resulted in developments by which the regional authorities in the Netherlands have become pitiful and redundant entities.
- Keywords
- Netherlands Provinces; Regional Authority; Intergovernmental Relations
- StartPage
- 21
- EndPage
- 30
- Doi