The dynamics of decentralization and recentralization

Decentralization of authority from central government to sub-national gover nments is an important part of modern public sector reforms and has been th e primary contribution to public sector reform in Denmark and the other Nor dic countries. On the assumption that political and administrative actors a re authority maximizers, the paper analyses how national and sub-national a ctors react to these decentralization goals, and the extent to which they a re implemented. The analysis points to the importance of both institutional and power variables. It concludes that dynamic change can take place in a public sector which is characterized by strong corporatist and multi-level institutions, such as in Denmark.