1: Introduction to Nordic public administration.- Part 1: Structures and Space.- 2: Defining polity: Finnish politico-administrative system.- 3: City-regionalization, local democracy and civic participation.- 4: Government of government: How and by whom the government is governed?- 5: Local government and autonomy.- 6: Constructing the Finnish constitutional doctrine on regional self-government.- 7: Public financial management: budgeting and accountability.- 8:Performance management in the Finnish government: reflections and future directions from the perspectives of hybridity and sustainability.- 9: Public service systems: meaningful public service.- Part 2: Process and actors.- 10: Social and health care policy: taming complexities?- 11: Nordic environmental state in the making? The difficult transformation to sustainable practices.- 12: Higher education policy: accountable academia.- 13: Landscapes of knowledge production. education policy and diminishing inequality.- 14: Comprehensive governance of security.- 15: Human rights policy and Finnish human rights architecture.- 16: Innovation policy in Finland: from the limelight to distress to a search for new avenues.- 17: Reflections: Finnish public management as a Nordic system.

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of public administration in Finland. Many of the basic structures of Finnish public administration have remained intact during the country’s relatively short independence of 100 years, but Finland has been able to tackle major  turbulence ranging from wars and financial crises to the Covid-19 pandemic. Finland has also had to adjust to greater European integration, a new constitution, an ageing population, increased globalization of markets, and climate change. Chapters in this volume examine a wide range of themes pertinent to Finnish public administration, including government, regionalisation, health care policy, performance management, budgeting, and higher education policy. Placing these themes within the wider context of Nordic administrative developments, the book showcases public administration in Finland as pragmatism in action. It will appeal to students and scholars of public administration, public management, public policyand Nordic studies.

​“While it is tempting to consider all Scandinavian countries as a common cluster, this book demonstrates how Finland distinguishes itself clearly within this Nordic public space. This book proves that a seemingly ‘small’ country in the periphery of Europe is actually a ‘grand’ country at the centre of ‘avant-garde’ in reforms, in the past and present, and even more in the future. Let us all learn from this Finnish experience.”— Geert Bouckaert, Professor, Public Governance Institute, KU Leuven, Belgium“It is essential reading both for any researchers/students (in Finland or globally) interested in Finnish public administration and management and for practitioners and policy makers in Finland.”— Stephen P. Osborne, Professor, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Provides a comprehensive analysis of public administration in Finland Examines themes pertinent to Finnish public administration, including health policy, budgeting, and education policy Analyses Finnish public administration within the context of Nordic administrative developments

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