Performance Measurement in European local governments: a comparative analysis of reform experiences in Great Britain, France, Sweden and Germany
| Published date | 01 June 2010 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0020852310372050 |
| Date | 01 June 2010 |
| Author | Sabine Kuhlmann |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Sabine Kuhlmann is Professor and Chair of Comparative Public Administration, German University
of Administrative Sciences Speyer, Germany. Translation of the article published in French under the
following title: ‘Les démarches pour mesurer la performance des administrations européennes locales:
une analyse comparative des expériences de réforme en Grande-Bretagne, en France, en Suède et
en Allemagne’.
© The authors, 2010. Reprints and Permissions: http://www.sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
Vol 76(2):331–345 [DOI:10.1177/0020852310372050]
International
Review of
Administrative
Sciences
Performance Measurement in European local governments:
a comparative analysis of reform experiences in Great Britain,
France, Sweden and Germany
Sabine Kuhlmann
Abstract
Using the examples of France, Germany, Sweden and Great Britain, countries which
represent different models of local government and administration in Europe, the
author sets out the different approaches at reform, channels of implementation
and the impacts of Performance Measurement at the local level. Based on the
results of empirical research, the article focuses on two major themes: the similari-
ties and differences between the performance measurement systems in the four
countries on the one hand, and the impacts of these reforms on administrative
action on the other hand. The analysis and comparison of the reforms in these
four countries have enabled the author to draw the following conclusions: a strong
culture of transparency combined with a voluntary approach allow for optimum
use of local performance measurement and comparison, while compulsory, highly
standardized, top-down imposed procedures are expensive and do not have the
desired learning effects.
Points for practitioners
The comparative study of the four countries demonstrates the advantages and
disadvantages of the different variants ( design, steering and implementation) of
Performance Measurement at the local level. The author shows that steering (top-
down versus bottom-up; voluntary versus compulsory), the design of the measure-
ment instruments, the transparency of information relating to performance and
political support or rejection contribute greatly to the success or failure of reform
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