The Future of Local Government in Europe

Over recent decades, local governments in Europe have come increasingly under pressure facing a multitude of new challenges, like demographic change, climate change, public debt, digitalization, demands for more participation, and the migration crisis in some European countries, to name just a few. Consequently, a wave of political and administrative reforms aimed at coping with these challenges, pressures and, wicked problems has changed local governance in many nations. In part, these changes were the result of reform policies introduced by national and state governments, often triggered by austerity, which has become an overwhelming reality for an increasing number of European municipalities. They also followed municipal initiatives and more endogenous driving forces.