Mayors in Seven European Countries: Part II – Performance and Analysis

Abstract

Western European countries differ according to the ways in which they organise the selection and the statutory positions of mayors, as was described in Part I of this study. The question to be answered now is: ‘To what extent is mayoral performance affected by selection procedures and the statutory position of the mayoral office?’. It will become clear that there are huge differences in mayoral performance. Several factors influencing that performance will be identified. The most important conclusion is that mayoral selection procedures and statutory positions do affect mayoral performance, although not as much as expected. Other factors are at stake.

Key Words:

• Local democracy
• local politics
• mayors
• performance

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Harald Baldersheim and Scott Stock Gissendanner for constructive comments during and after the ECPR Panel Sessions, September 2005.