Political Leaders and Public Administrators in Finland

From a European perspective, the local governments of the Nordic countries— particularly at municipal level—have extensive responsibility for operating local welfare services. Municipal self-government, state welfare objectives and the traditional roles of political leaders and public administrators all have an effect on local management. The Nordic welfare-state model and the legalistic tradition are key factors in how the Finnish local government system and welfare service system are organized (OECD 2010, 55–56). The changes in the operating environment and the ongoing reforms have simultaneously created a need for new roles and new models of interaction between local political leaders and local public administrators.