Jelena Vuckovic, LL.D.

AGENCIFICATION IN NORDIC AND BALTIC STATES

Summary

Agencification manifests its different characteristics in various regional constitutional and governing systems. Nordic countries are characterized by the concept of "welfare state", egalitarian social ideology and politico-administrative culture with a high degree of trust between the political and administrative executive. However,there are differences in the institutional model of agencies in these states. There is a difference between the north-eastern states (Finland and Sweden), with a much longer tradition of the agency administration, and with a dualistic model between autonomous central agencies and government, where agencies report directly to government.On the other hand, in the north-western states (Denmark and Norway),exists an opposite, more monistic model, in which there are much closer connections between central agencies and the relevant ministers, based on the principle of political accountability of ministers, which are responsible for activities of the agencies.Recent changes in agencification are characterized by reducing number of agencies and rationalization of public administration due to the global crisis and also due to strengthening of centralized state authorities and limiting the autonomy of the independent bodies.

Keywords: agencification, deagencification, reform of agencies, ministerial scrutiny.