Abstract

Local governments exist in virtually all countries, and decisions made by local governments affect the everyday life of their inhabitants. Local planning, primary education, fire services, parks and recreation, and welfare provision are examples of policy issues often handled within local authorities (e.g., Hague & Harrop, 2007; Norton, 1991). In some countries, such as those in Scandinavia, local government is comparatively strong. In others, such as in France, the United Kingdom and Taiwan, local powers are more limited (e.g., Lijphart, 1999; Sellars & Lidström 2007; Erlingsson & Ödalen, 2013; Fang, 2015). In either case, important policy decisions are made locally, and poor performance by local governments affects trust in local authorities just as trust in national government is responsive to national conditions (Fitzgerald & Wolak, 2014).