Decentralisation of active labour market policy: The case of Swedish local employment service committees

Arbeitspapier

Decentralisation of decision-making in active labour market policy makes it possible to use local information to the fullest, but may also impinge on the fulfilment of national objectives, as suggested by principal-agent theory. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a Swedish pilot programme in 1996, which strengthened the role of the local authorities in labour market policy in parts of the country. Survey evidence suggests a non-negligible divergence between the objectives of the municipality representatives and the central government's goals. Regarding programme effects, our econometric findings do not indicate any increase in geographical lock-in of the unemployed, but decentralisation seems to spur local initiatives in the form of labour market programmes organised by the municipalities. In addition, targeting on outsiders is to some extent more common in municipal projects than in others.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Working Paper ; No. 2000:6

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations: General ; Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers: General
• Subject: Active labour market policy ; Decentralisation ; Intergovernmental relations

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Lundin, Martin ; Skedinger, Per
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for Labour Market Policy Evaluation (IFAU)
• (where): Uppsala
• (when): 2000

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/82141
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET