OECD Insights onReforms of the Territorial Administration

in European Countries

Public Administration as a Tool for Promoting GrowthBudapest

29 November 20131

Mr Filippo CavassiniPolicy Analyst

Governance Reviews and Partnerships Division

Public Governance and Territorial Development

DEFININING AND MEASURING TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION

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What is the territorial administration?

• Local administration of the central government that has delegated powers but no legal autonomy vis-à-vis the central government

• Also known as deconcentrated central/state administration

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What data do we have?

Source: OECD (2013), Government at a Glance 2013. OECD Publishing

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Irelan

d

United

King

dom

Eston

ia

Portu

gal

Czech

Rep

ublic

Greec

e

Slove

nia

Hunga

ry

Luxe

mbour

g

Slova

k Rep

ublic

Swed

en

Austr

ia

Polan

d

Fran

ce

Denmar

kIta

ly

Nether

lands

Finlan

d

Belgium Sp

ain

German

y0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Distribution of government expenditures across levels of government (2011)

Central government State government Local government Social security

What data do we have?

Source: OECD (2013), Government at a Glance 2013. OECD Publishing

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Irelan

d

Greec

e

Luxe

mbour

g

Portu

gal

Slove

nia Italy

Eston

ia

Czech

Rep

ublic

Fran

ce

Hunga

ry

Denmar

k

Nether

lands

Finlan

dSp

ain

Swed

en

Belgium

German

y0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Government employment across levels of gov-ernment (2011)

Central Sub-central Social security

INSIGHTS FROMOECD PUBLIC GOVERNANCE

REVIEWS

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Public Governance Reviews (PGRs)

• A 360-degree diagnostic of government performance, including in-depth analysis, actionable recommendations and implementation support

• Supporting public administration reform in a number of EU countries– Comprehensive reviews of public governance in Ireland

(2008), Finland (2010), Estonia (2011), Slovenia (2012), Poland (2013)

– Reviews of selected governance issues in France (2012) and Greece (2010-2013)

– On-going work in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain

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The Strategic State• A strategic state matters for growth and well-

being– Long-term vision, foresight and agility– Leadership and stewardship from the centre– Integrity and transparency– Institutional strength and networks– Inclusive and effective processes– Implementation in support of real outcomes and impact

for the economy and society

• All the building blocks of a strategic state can relate to the territorial administration—focus on:– Institutional aspects– Implementation/service delivery aspects

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Evolving institutional role• Transferring powers and responsibilities to local

self-government monitoring and oversight role of the territorial administration– Finland: reduction in the number and responsibilities

of state provincial offices and granting of operational and economic independence to municipalities (1990s)

– Poland: decentralisation reform assigning important responsibilities for economic development and service delivery to municipalities, provinces and regions (1990-2000)

• Broadening and deepening the structure and responsibilities of the territorial administration– Hungary: establishment of district offices and reform

of the local government system (2010- )– Slovenia: establishment of administrative units taken

over state functions performed by municipalities (1995)9

On the front line in service delivery• Increased attention for improving access to

administrative services through one-stop shops– France: Points publics and Plates-formes de Services

Publics (2000s) – Hungary: District Offices (2013- )– Slovakia: KAMO Offices (2012- )

• Streamlining back-office structures– France: key tax functions consolidated into a single

Public Finances Directorate (2008)– Hungary: establishment of the Office of Public

Administration and Justice as the key interface between central and deconcentrated levels (2011- )

– Slovakia: consolidating local state administration offices and establishment of regional and district support offices (2012- ) 10

LESSONS AND NEXT STEPS

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Emerging lessons

• Evolving structures and responsibilities of the territorial administration– One size does not fit all– Important to consider the relationship with local self-

government to ensure synergies and co-operation– Key to ensure vertical and horizontal co-operation

within the central administration

• Key role of the territorial administration in delivering services to citizens and businesses– Human and financial resources need to support tasks

and responsibilities– Front-line services and back-office structures need to

be aligned to ensure efficiency and effectiveness– Administrative simplification and e-government can

support reform 12

OECD on-going and future work

• Deepening the understanding of the structures and roles of the territorial administration across countries– Data collection and analysis– Functional reviews

• Supporting in-country territorial administration reform through in-depth analysis, policy dialogue, sharing of international experience– One-stop shops– Administrative simplification– Human resources management– E-government– Integrity and transparency

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THANK YOU!

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