Local Government in the Baltic States
Similar but Different
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6301858 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Edvins Vanags (University of Latvia), Inga Vilka (University of Latvia) |
| Year | 2006 |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 623-637 |
| Publication date | 2006-11-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Local Government Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0300-3930 • E-ISSN: 1743-9388 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/03003930600896244 |
| OpenAlex | W2043462462 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 3 |
The administrative–territorial structure of local government in the three Baltic countries is very different. In Lithuania, administrative–territorial reorganisation was achieved quickly using command methods, by removing local governments at the municipal level, leaving local governments at county level with average population over 60,000, among the largest in Europe. In Estonia, local government exists in town and rural municipalities, but many are very small. There are administrative structures at county level, but these are part of local state administration, without elections. In Latvia, there are two levels of elected local government, but the municipalities at the lower level are very small. Administrative–territorial reform has been implemented by voluntary amalgamations, and is therefore very slow, leaving a complicated mix of local governments. Local elections at county level have not been held since 1997. The process of amalgamation is now being speeded up from the centre, following extensive consultation. This article compares and contrasts the situation in the three countries. As of today, in Lithuania there is pressure to recreate local governments at a level below the county, while in the other Baltic States the aim is to amalgamate the small municipalities to create more efficient structures
Administration (probate law · Business · Economic growth · Economics · Government (linguistics · Local authority · Local government · Political science · Population · Sociology · State (computer science · Cross-Border Cooperation and Integration · European Union Policy and Governance · Law · Public Administration · Regional Development and Policy
Letonya’da Yerel Yönetimlerin İdari ve Mali Yapısı
Party system nationalization in Estonia
How Do Local Party Systems Change after the Direct Election of Mayors? Analysis of the Institutional Reform in Lithuania
Baltic Local Governments’ Fiscal Situation
Where and How You Sit
Development of local authorities in EU-member states between 1950–2011
| Citations per year | 0.35 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2009 - 2025 (17) |
| Highly cited | No |