Intergovernmental relations and the effectiveness of local governance

Abstract

In the Netherlands, national government sets the frameworks for youth policy, while local government should play a crucial role in realizing national goals. Local government is supposed to be better equipped for realizing effective policies. Yet national government tries to influence local policies. Furthermore, local government's role in general has changed significantly because of the shift towards governance. The questions raised are whether local government is capable of pursuing effective governance in youth policies and how national policies affect the governance role of local government. These questions are answered by an extensive examination of youth policy in 72 municipalities and by assessing national policy on its possible impact. The results suggest that national policy strongly affects local youth policy, both by setting the agenda as well as by frustrating local governance. Diffuse defined responsibilities and strong mutual dependencies create a complex, interwoven policy arena that impedes effective policies.