Kommunernas framtid - kommunreform eller samverkan

Sammanfattning: The municipalities in Sweden are the result of a reform executed between the years 1962-1974 in which smaller municipalities were merged with others, to create larger more economically sustainable units. Today the debate, in wheather the municipalities are able to perform their duties towards their citizens, has been revived. The standard for municipal service is set by the more affluent municipalities, and the smaller ones struggle under the pressure to stretch their funds and abilities as far as possible to do the same. This essay is a discussion on the subject of the Swedish municipalities, specifically the smaller ones and those situated in Region Skåne. In the current debate there seems to be two options to resolve the issue; either smaller municipalities do what many in Skåne does now, which is collaborate across the municipal borders and regionally. Or a new reform could be carried out, and like in the previous one, smaller municipalities merge together to create larger and stronger units more able to face challenges.