MEASURING NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: EXPERIENCES FROM EU CITIES

Economic globalization, growingly differentiated and unstable markets, scal crises in lightof increasing public expenditure are the elementsof an uncertain future for local communities. Localcommunities are captured between the localservice provision demands and the global marketof local communities that compete for investors.In the context of this ever demanding environmentthe functions of local administration should bereformed. The article presents the speci cs of localmanagement and alongside its reform processunder the principles of new public management.The empirical part of the article explains the ndingsof an extensive study of local administrationsin the European Union and their reforms withimplications that show the effects of reformed localadministration on the economic performance of thelocal community.