Dutch Municipalities Research Articles

State Aid, Open Access and Market Size: Two Cases of FTTH Network Implementation in Dutch Municipalities

The discussion on the EU regulatory framework of 2003 in particular on emerging markets provides for a new dynamic approach towards investment in next generation broadband infrastructure in municipalities. By using the criterion of non-replicable assets, FTTH networks in local municipalities can be characterized as a new infrastructure which is aimed at providing new services which should be exempted from ex ante regulation. However, to justify public investment in these networks in particular in ‘black areas" their compatibility with Article 87 of the EC Treaty has to be guaranteed. In this context, the paper uses the examples of two FTTH networks in local communities in the Netherlands to show that (different) open access agreements are vital but not sufficient to guarantee service competition. We show that for small networks public investment in the start up phase of the network is required to facilitate a multiple supplier environment. Keywords EU Regulatory Framework, State Aid, FTTH Networks in Municipalities, Active Costing, The Netherlands

Melanoma risk after ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization.

Do women treated with ovarian stimulation for IVF have an increased risk of melanoma? Ovarian stimulation for IVF does not increase risk of melanoma, even after a prolonged follow-up. Although exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the major risk factor for melanoma, associations between female sex steroids and melanoma risk have also been suggested. The results of available studies on fertility drugs and melanoma risk are inconclusive since most studies had several methodological limitations such as short follow-up, a small number of cases and no subfertile comparison group. In 1996, a nationwide historic cohort study (the OMEGA-cohort) was established to examine the risk of cancer after ovarian stimulation for IVF. After a median follow-up of 17 years, cancer incidence was ascertained through linkage with the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Melanoma risk in the cohort was compared with that in the general population and between the IVF group and non-IVF group using multivariable Cox regression analyses. The cohort comprises 19 158 women who received IVF between 1983 and 1995 and a comparison group of 5950 women who underwent subfertility treatments other than IVF. Detailed IVF-treatment data were obtained from the medical records and complete information on parity and age at first birth was obtained through linkage with the Dutch Municipal Personal Records Database. In total, 93 melanoma cases were observed. The risk of melanoma was not elevated among IVF-treated women, neither when compared with the general population (standardized incidence ratio = 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-1.12), nor when compared with the non-IVF group (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.27; 95% CI: 0.75-2.15). A higher number of IVF cycles was associated with apparent but statistically non-significant risk increases (5-6 cycles HR = 1.92; ≥7 cycles HR = 1.79). However, no significant trend emerged. In women with more follicle stimulating hormone/human menopausal gonadotrophin ampoules comparable non-significant risk increases were found. A longer follow-up did not increase melanoma risk. Nulliparous women did not have a significantly higher melanoma risk than parous women (HR = 1.22; 95% CI: 0.81-1.84). However, women who were 30 years of age or older at first birth had a significantly higher melanoma risk than women who were younger than 30 years at first birth (age: 30-34 years HR = 4.57; 95% CI: 2.07-10.08, >34 years HR = 2.98; 95% CI: 1.23-7.21). Despite our large cohort, the number of melanoma cases was rather small, especially in our comparison group, which hampered subgroup analyses. Our results are reassuring for women who underwent IVF or are contemplating to start IVF. Since our cohort study is one of the largest published so far, with long-term follow-up, a subfertile comparison group, and detailed IVF-treatment data, our results add important information to the available evidence. This study was supported by grants from the Dutch Cancer Society (NKI 2006-3631), the Health Research and Development Counsel (28-2540) and the Dutch Ministry of Health.

Implementing sustainability in public procurement: The limited role of procurement managers and party-political executives

Little is known about the way local government utilizes the procurement function to promote sustainability. Sustainability is a political theme of considerable importance at the local government level. We investigated the relationships between municipal executive councillors and procurement managers in three Dutch municipalities. We found that the party-political councillors focus on initiatives affecting citizens to create public visibility and electoral support. Procurement managers however, are primarily concerned with stakeholders within the organization serving different interests. Sustainability initiatives appear largely input-based rather than result-based. Procurement managers rarely consult with the councillors. Rather, department heads have the final say in allocating funds in the course of sustainability initiatives.

There’s No Beer without a Smoke: Community Cohesion and Neighboring Communities’ Effects on Organizational Resistance to Antismoking Regulations in the Dutch Hospitality Industry

This study highlights the importance of communities in explaining organizational resistance to institutional pressures. Examining the active resistance of small bars to smoking regulations in 427 Dutch municipalities (communities), we argue that the likelihood of organizational resistance to institutional pressure from a powerful actor is affected by the social cohesion of the focal community. In addition, we propose a contiguity effect that emphasizes the broader social context of the community—its neighboring communities—as a source for support or information about appropriate ways to resist such pressures. By incorporating community attributes to account for organizations’ heterogeneous responses to institutional pressure, the study advances current institutional scholarship and demonstrates empirically how such a theory can help explain the success of relatively weak organizational actors’ resistance in the face of strong institutional pressures by the state—that is, as a result of their embeddedness in a community.

The Effectiveness of Dutch Municipal Recycling Policies

markdownabstract__Abstract__ The EU advocates a household waste recycling rate of more than 70%. Although the Netherlands already years ago invested in recycling policies heavily, this is still a large challenge as nowadays on average this rate is approximately 50% and nearly no municipalities have a rate above 70%. Given the experience, it is possible to learn from the Dutch experience which policies are effective in increasing the recycling rates. Based on a large panel data set for the Netherlands , we show that unit-based pricing, avoiding a duo-bin or unsorted and compostable waste, and moving back the frequency of collecting unsorted and compostable waste at the curbside are effective in raising the recycling rate. However, only unit-based pricing has a substantial effect. In nearly all cases changing the frequency of collection of recyclables had no or very small effects. We find some evidence for the effectiveness of adding bring locations to curbside collection. Based on an estimation of the cost function most policies have no effect on costs, except for unit-based pricing (saving on cost) and increases in the frequency of unsorted waste collection (cost increasing). Overall, it seems nearly impossible to reach the EU-goal of 70% with the policies applied.

Manifestations of integrated public health policy in Dutch municipalities.

Integrated public health policy (IPHP) aims at integrating health considerations into policies of other sectors. Since the limited empirical evidence available may hamper its further development, we systematically analysed empirical manifestations of IPHP, by placing policy strategies along a continuum of less-to-more policy integration, going from intersectoral action (IA) to healthy public policy (HPP) to health in all policies (HiAP). Our case study included 34 municipal projects of the Dutch Gezonde Slagkracht Programme (2009-15), which supports the development and implementation of IPHP on overweight, alcohol and drug abuse, and smoking. Our content analysis of project application forms and interviews with all project leaders used a framework approach involving the policy strategies and the following policy variables: initiator, actors, policy goals, determinants and policy instruments. Most projects showed a combination of policy strategies. However, manifestations of IPHP in overweight projects predominantly involved IA. More policy integration was apparent in alcohol/drugs projects (HPP) and in all-theme projects (HiAP). More policy integration was related to broad goal definitions, which allowed for the involvement of actors representing several policy sectors. This enabled the implementation of a mix of policy instruments. Determinants of health were not explicitly used as a starting point of the policy process. If a policy problem justifies policy integration beyond IA, it might be helpful to start from the determinants of health (epidemiological reality), systematically transform them into policy (policy reality) and set broad policy goals, since this gives actors from other sectors the opportunity to participate.

Engaging Migrants in Translocal Partnerships: the Case of Dutch–Moroccan and Dutch–Turkish Municipal Partnerships

AbstractFrom 2000 onwards, Dutch local governments have established transnational partnerships with local governments in Morocco and Turkey, two main migrant source countries to the Netherlands. These municipal partnerships aim at strengthening and transforming local governance on both sides of the partnerships. This is particularly relevant as roles of local governments in Morocco and Turkey are changing because of decentralisation and democratisation processes, whereas Dutch municipalities face challenges related to ethnic and cultural diversity. This paper seeks to answer two questions: first, what roles migrants play within these partnerships, and second, how the involvement of migrants influences the process of knowledge exchange and mutual learning leading to changes in local governance. The paper is based on a case study approach including five municipal partnerships and contributes both to the scarce body of knowledge about the roles of migrants in transnational cooperation at the local level and to the limited research on mutual learning in municipal partnerships. The research shows migrants fulfil several roles; they act as initiators, key actors, facilitators, and contributors of specialised and cultural knowledge. Their role as facilitators in the exchanges focusing at the interfaces between local governments and citizens is particularly relevant as introducing youth participation is new in the involved municipalities in Morocco and dealing with cultural diversity is a continuing challenge in the Dutch municipalities. There still is a large untapped potential as limited use is made of involving larger groups of migrants and on drawing on their networks. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Local government austerity policies in the Netherlands: the effectiveness of social dialogue in preserving public service employment

The financial and economic crisis has led to fiscal austerity measures and reform policies in the Netherlands that have had a direct impact on municipalities. Decreased municipal budgets have forced municipalities to cut public services and lower the employment conditions of municipal employees. It may be expected that in countries like the Netherlands, with stronger social dialogue institutions, decision-making will provide more room for effective employee participation. This study investigates whether and how social dialogue has influenced austerity policies in Dutch municipalities. The results indicate that collective bargaining at sectoral level resulted in moderate increases in nominal wages as well as support for workers who were made redundant. At the workplace level, the effectiveness of social dialogue through works councils has varied depending on the history of relationships between employers and employee representatives and their strategic approach in dealing with austerity.

Understanding Mixed Forms of Refuse Collection, Privatization, and Its Reverse in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT Based on panel data for almost all Dutch municipalities, we analyze changes in the mode of service production for refuse collection between 1998 and 2010. We distinguish execution by private enterprises, municipal enterprises, municipal cooperation, outsourcing to neighboring municipalities, and in-house collection. The number of municipalities using mixed forms, such as municipal enterprise, rose as the use of other forms declined, although municipal cooperation only decreased slightly. In approximately half of Dutch municipalities, the mode of production was stable between 1998 and 2010. In the other municipalities, shifts took place, with two-thirds being towards outside production and one-third towards inside production. Based on a logit model, we find some evidence of an ideological motivation for changing the mode of production. For income, we show that richer municipalities are less likely to change. We also illustrate the robustness of this result to various assumptions.

Changing incidence and improved survival of gliomas

BackgroundTumours of the central nervous system (CNS) represent a relatively rare but serious health burden. This study provides insight into the incidence and survival patterns of gliomas in the Netherlands diagnosed in adult patients during the time period 1989–2010, with a focus on glioblastoma and low-grade gliomas. MethodsData on 21,085 gliomas (excluding grade I tumours) were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, including tumours of the CNS without pathological confirmation. We calculated the age-standardised incidence rates and the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) for all glioma subtypes. Crude and relative survival rates were estimated using information on the vital status obtained from the Dutch Municipal Personal Records Database. ResultsIncidence of gliomas in adults increased over time, from 4.9 per 100,000 in 1989 to 5.9 in 2010 (EAPC 0.7%, p<0.001). Two thirds were astrocytoma, 10% oligodendroglioma/oligoastrocytoma, 3% ependymoma and 21% were unspecified. Within the group of astrocytic tumours, the proportion of glioblastoma rose, while the proportion of anaplastic and unspecified astrocytoma decreased. Unspecified neoplasms also decreased, but this was significant only after 2005. Over the course of the study period, glioblastoma patients more often received multimodality treatment with chemotherapy concomitant and adjuvant to radiotherapy. The crude two-year survival rate of glioblastoma patients improved significantly, from 5% in the time period 1989–1994 to 15% in 2006–2010, with median survival increasing from 5.5 to 9months. The incidence of low-grade gliomas did not change over time. Survival rates for low-grade oligodendroglial and mixed tumours show a modest improvement. ConclusionsThe incidence rate for the total group of gliomas slightly increased, with a decrease of anaplastic and unspecified tumours and an increase of glioblastoma. Following the introduction of combined chemoradiation, two-year survival rates for glioblastoma significantly improved. Survival improved for low-grade gliomas except for low-grade astrocytic tumours.

Analysing Local Policy Agendas: How Dutch Municipal Executive Coalitions Allocate Attention

This article provides an analysis of the allocation of attention to policy problems on the local level, focusing on the executive agenda of six municipalities in the Netherlands over a 25-year period. It reveals that there is specifically a local politics of attention, showing differences between national and local policy agendas in specific policy areas. We did not find evidence that the political composition of the local executive coalitions leads to agenda differences, revealing the more problem-oriented and pragmatic nature of local politics. We did find evidence of an effect of institutional arrangements between national and local government on shifting patterns of attention, such as due to decentralisation. This shows that the local politics of attention is limited in scope and conditioned by the functions of local government and the institutional arrangements of policy making in the Dutch decentralised unitary state and that rearrangements affect these patterns of attention.

How do general end-of-life treatment goals and values relate to specific treatment preferences? A population-based study

Background: There is a lack of research on the relationship between general end-of-life goals and values and preferences for specific life-sustaining treatments. Aim: To examine agreement between Dutch older people’s general end-of-life goals and specific life-sustaining treatment preferences. Design: Participants identified general end-of-life goals in an interview and preferences for four life-sustaining treatments in hypothetical cancer and dementia scenarios in a separate questionnaire. Agreement between general goals and specific treatment preferences was calculated. Setting/participants: In total, 1818 older people from 11 representative Dutch municipalities participated in the study. Results: In total, 1168 (response rate 73%) answered questions on general end-of-life and specific treatment preferences. Agreement between a desire to live as long as possible, irrespective of health problems, and a preference for life-sustaining treatments ranged from 51% to 76% in cancer and 41% to 60% in dementia scenarios, depending on the treatment. Agreement between a desire for a shorter life, if without major health problems, and a preference to forgo treatments ranged from 61% to 79% in cancer and 75% to 88% in dementia scenarios. Conclusion: For a sizable minority of participants, specific treatment preferences did not agree with their general end-of-life goals. The more frequent desire to forgo treatments in case of dementia than cancer suggests that physical deterioration is more acceptable than cognitive decline. The findings underline the importance of discussing general care goals, different end-of-life scenarios and the risks and burdens of treatments to frame discussions of more specific treatment preferences.

Acceleration of the Energy Transition with the Local Energy Cooperative

Although many Dutch municipalities foresee a role for local energy cooperatives, these still have a minor part in the energy transition. Now their answer to the rate at which fossil energy confronts us with problems of shortages and emissions is unsatisfactory. The cooperative path is about new forms of cooperation between volunteers, companies, governments and institutions, and may not even lead to the formal establishment of a cooperative. Encouraging people to follow this path means watching closely what is actually taking place and what is successful. Highlighting the successes gives the chance to work on the urgent acceleration of the energy transition. This text takes from the successes four steps and is a call to make use thereof. Residents, governments, institutions and companies can take these steps to accelerate the emergence and growth of local energy cooperatives.

Growing Access to Local Decision-Making? Explaining Variation among Dutch Municipalities in the Institutional Measures to Promote Citizen Participation

ABSTRACT:Dutch municipalities have taken several institutional measures to promote citizen participation. The used measures differ widely, however, from one municipality to the next: some try to innovate, while others keep the level of participation measures at the lowest possible level. This study tries to explain those differences. Contrary to other studies, it uses a quantitative approach and does not focus on the impact of participatory policies. Instead, the article aims to better understand what drives institutional design. The article demonstrates that differences between municipalities can best be explained by variables at the institutional and political levels, although it also observes that possible explanatory variables correlate highly.

Reflections on the uptake of climate change policies by local governments: facing the challenges of mitigation and adaptation

There is a growing body of literature that examines the role of local governments in addressing climate change vis-a-vis mitigation and adaptation. Although it appears that climate change mitigation strategies - in particular those addressing energy issues - are being adopted by a large majority of local governments, this cannot be said of climate change adaptation. This paper explores the uptake of these two types of climate change policy by local governments in the Netherlands. The central research question is: What lessons can be drawn from comparing the adoption and implementation of local climate change mitigation policies with local climate change adaptation policies in the Netherlands? Our paper contributes to the body of literature on climate change policy implementation, drawing particular attention to the ongoing debate on the institutional dimension of the adaptation-mitigation dichotomy. A comparative case study research design was chosen to study the adoption and implementation of climate change (i) mitigation and (ii) adaptation policies by local governments in the Netherlands during the period 1998 to 2013. The data involved 89 expert interviews and secondary data sources from four research projects conducted by the present authors on local climate change policy implementation. Most Dutch municipalities have local climate change policies that address mitigation. Local governments pay relatively little attention to adaptation. The difference is mostly due to the take-up of central government-led policy support schemes aimed at the vertical integration of climate change mitigation policies. Moreover, mitigation is typically framed as an ‘energy’ issue whereas adaptation is framed as a ‘water’ issue. This has far-reaching consequences. Climate change adaptation has never been prioritized, nor has it been supported with properly funded policy support schemes. In the realm of local climate change policies, adaptation is still considered an ‘add-on’ to climate change mitigation policy. Moreover, adoption and implementation of both adaptation and mitigation suffers from institutional inertia in Dutch local policy practice.

Organizational values and the implications for mainstreaming climate adaptation in Dutch municipalities: using Q methodology

Mainstreaming climate adaptation requires the inclusion of climate adaptation in the policies of various policy domains such as water management and spatial planning. This paper investigates the organizational values present in several municipal policy departments in order to explore their willingness to act upon climate adaptation and the implications for mainstreaming. Q methodology, supplemented by interviews and focus groups, applied in three major Dutch municipalities – Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam – reveals three value patterns: (1) start today; (2) not for us to lead; and (3) shared responsibility. These different value patterns indicate that there is a general agreement on the problem, impacts and solutions, but disagreement on the time frame for action and the allocation of resources. Although all three value patterns are present within departments in each municipality, different value patterns prevail in each municipality. Additionally, the analysis shows barriers as well as opportunities for mainstreaming. A lack of political commitment and leadership, and unsupportive organizational structures, create barriers. In spite of this, there is willingness to act and strategic framing is applied to gain acceptance for the mainstreaming of climate adaptation.

Mysterieuze gasten

Mystery guests. Policy research to the access of emergency shelters with people who have experience with homelessness themselves Mystery guests. Policy research to the access of emergency shelters with people who have experience with homelessness themselves In many Dutch municipalities access to shelter is only given to a person when he or she has a ‘local connection’ to the geographical area. Therefore, the question is to what extent shelter services are accessible nationwide. In the presented study we tested policy in practice: Mystery guests (people with experience of homelessness) visited shelter facilities and reported their findings. In the article we explore the possibility to do policy research using mystery guests, and the pros and cons of working with people who have experience with homelessness themselves. It is concluded that this kind of research is a good method to test policy in practice, under the condition that enough time and support is provided. Collecting data with a combination of checklists and in-depth interviews would provide richer information about the experiences the mystery guests had in the field.

Loosely Coupled Results Control in Dutch Municipalities

This paper analyses the implementation of the ‘dual system’ in Dutch municipalities which was part of a package of New Public Management‐reforms. This system was stimulated by Dutch central government and called for more accountability for performance of municipal managers and the board of mayor and aldermen, as well as for the use of more output and outcome information. Interviews of participants on four different hierarchical levels in 12 municipalities show that the practices of output management at different hierarchical levels are only loosely coupled to each other (‘vertical loose coupling’). We also found some degree of ‘horizontal loose coupling’ at each hierarchical level between result orientation, the development of output indicators and the use of output information for performance evaluation. The paper analyses the reasons why municipalities encounter difficulties in designing a comprehensive and coherent performance management system.

Loosely Coupled Results Control in Dutch Municipalities

AbstractThis paper analyses the implementation of the ‘dual system’ in Dutch municipalities which was part of a package of New Public Management‐reforms. This system was stimulated by Dutch central government and called for more accountability for performance of municipal managers and the board of mayor and aldermen, as well as for the use of more output and outcome information. Interviews of participants on four different hierarchical levels in 12 municipalities show that the practices of output management at different hierarchical levels are only loosely coupled to each other (‘vertical loose coupling’). We also found some degree of ‘horizontal loose coupling’ at each hierarchical level between result orientation, the development of output indicators and the use of output information for performance evaluation. The paper analyses the reasons why municipalities encounter difficulties in designing a comprehensive and coherent performance management system.

SOA in Variability-Intensive Environments: Pitfalls and Best Practices

Software solution providers face numerous pitfalls when using standardized SOA-based solutions. One cause is variability between customer organizationsmfor example, variability occurs in local e-government because of municipalitiesr autonomy when it comes to implementing national laws. This autonomy results in variations in business processes, which then cause variability in the information systems that implement them. This article presents pitfalls the authors observed in Dutch e-government, an example of a variability-intensive environment. They also present best practices that help deal with these pitfalls and organize them in an architecture pattern. Applying the pattern at more than 20 Dutch municipalities led to successful SOA implementations. Because such pitfalls are not just applicable to e-government, the proposed pattern can also be applied to other domains.