Other publications
Harvey Lazar / Christian Leuprecht (eds.)
Spheres of Governance
Comparative Studies of Cities in Multilevel Governance Systems
2007, 200 p., ISBN 9781-55339-019-0
In English
Therein the chapter Municipal-Federal Relations in Germany by Rudolf Hrbek (Speaker of the Board of the ECRF) and Jan Bodenbender (former project assistant of the ECRF); Result of the project Federal-Municipal Relations.
Local governments are becoming increasingly important around the world and functions are being shifted across levels of government. This timely comparative analysis breaks new ground in the study of multilevel governance, intergovernmental relations, and municipal government. Spheres of Governance systematically compares the challenges faced by municipalities in Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States, with emphasis on the relationship between the municipal and federal levels.
Each chapter analyzes a municipality in relation to its responsibilities, functions, and organization; constitutional and fiscal position; relations with the central government; provincial and state governments mediation of these relationships; and public policy development, especially with regard to emergency planning and immigration and settlement. The chapters also highlight the tensions and pressures for change in the systems.