This paper deals with two questions on the relations between the size of political systems and political trust. First, does citizens' trust in national elected officials differ from their trust in local elected officials? Second, what is the relationship between citizens' trust in elected local government officials and the size of local government units? These questions were answered on the basis of survey data from Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom. We found that trust in local officeholders is typically and often considerably higher than trust in national politicians. Moreover, the evidence from these four countries suggests that size of municipality has a modest negative effect on political trust. Further evidence suggests that this negative effect is the result of a tendency of citizens in small municipalities to be more satisfied with their local government than residents in large units. This further evidence also shows that whatever its origins (intensive personal relations or a dense network of civil organisations) social trust is not vital for an adequate understanding of political trust.
This article examines the effects of the structure of intermunicipal cooperatives (IMCs) on the perceived transaction costs and benefits of IMCs. Hypotheses based on a polycentric theory of regional governance are tested using data from Dutch municipalities. The findings are mixed. In line with polycentric theory, networks characterized by a multiplicity of territorial scales reduce IMC transaction costs. Contrary to polycentric theory, however, if IMCs are organized under a uniform legal regime, lower costs and higher benefits are reported. Structural factors that dominate the debate between polycentrism and monocentrism prove to be of limited importance. On the other hand, the results indicate support for the hypotheses that intermunicipal trust (as a cultural variable) contributes to perceptions of effective and efficient cooperation.Marcel Boogers holds a chair in Innovation and Regional Governance in the School of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences of the University of Twente, the Netherlands. His research focuses on the structure of and dynamics within networks of local and regional governments, production and service industries, higher education institutes, and other third-sector organizations.
Comparative urban political research offers scholars the opportunity to develop theory and to compare practice, yet there is a need for more conscious attention to the comparative method and the special opportunities and challenges involved in its application to local political phenomena. This article examines and makes recommendations on issues that are particularly relevant to cross-national research in urban politics and policy, including dealing with multiple levels of analysis, improving research design, and improving conceptualization.Comparative urban political research is highly relevant, both from a practical and from a scientific perspective. From a practical perspective, cities have always been centers of inventiveness and innovation (Hall 1998). This creativity is not limited to the economic and the cultural realm, but also 550
AUTHORS' NOTE: This research note builds on work done in preparation for the Fulbright Comparative Local Politics Curriculum Workshop in Odense (Denmark) in 2004, organized by Clarence Stone and Hal Wolman of George Washington University and Poul-Erik Mouritzen andNiels Ejerbo of Southern Denmark University. We thank the organizers and participants of this event and three anonymous referees for their comments that have helped to clarify many points in the argument.
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