Finland's traditional Nordic model is under pressure. A rapidly ageing society, the global economic crisis and growing societal disillusionment require the public administration to be strategically agile in order to maintain fiscal sustainability and to respond to a complex and rapidly changing environment.

The governments capacity to act in these difficult times will depend on the public administrations ability to work together across all of the public administration at the state and local level, and with society as a whole in order to sustain success and maintain its global position in the future.

This report is the second in a series of OECD country reviews that look at governance and public management issues from a comprehensive perspective. These reviews help countries to identify how reforms can better reinforce each other in support of overall government objectives. They also examine reform strategies that have worked in other countries and provide advice as to which reforms can be appropriately adapted to a given country.

This review of public governance in Finland finds the traditional Nordic model under pressure from rapid ageing, the economic crisis and societal disillusionment. It makes recommendations for improving public governance in Finland.

Key Topics Covered:

• Foreword
• Executive Summary
• Chapter 1. Main Assessment
• Chapter 2. Sustainability of the Nordic model: The Role of the State
• Chapter 3. Governance Arrangements
• Chapter 4. Strategic Insight
• Chapter 6. Collective Commitment
• Chapter 7. Resource Flexibility
• Chapter 8. Basic Services Case Study
• Chapter 9. E-Government Case Study
• Bibliography
• Annex A.
• Accompanying Economic Figures and Tables for Chapter 2
• Annex B. Management and Consultation