As an auditor, I consider and assess my client's governance. Subject to such micro level assessments are the company's social cohesion, its leadership's span of control, the explicitness of its strategy and (ethical) shared values.
When I read today's edition of Dutch newspaper: NRC Handelsblad, on social cohesion in Europe, sovereignty of individual countries and mutual solidarity among European citizens, I realized that the outcome of my macro level "governance" considerations for my country, The Netherlands, would quite differ from its current design.
Currently the country's administration is a cascade of democracy at municipality, province (or state) and country level (and of course European level on top of). Despite the limited rise of local political parties, the traditional political parties (a.o. CDA, PVDA, VVD, D66, Groenlinks) are represented at all levels. Careers of politicians usually start at local level, and if succesful, continue at province and/or country levels. Besides, the voter turnout ratios at elections differ significantly among the various levels and even among the various provinces and municipalities.
If I approach the country from a (business) market perspective, I conclude that the composition of regional markets doesnot align with the current design of the NL Public Administration.
Limburg, Friesland, Drente, Gelderland, Zeeland, Utrecht and Groningen seem distinctive regional markets, which pretty much coincide with the provinces' borders. Especially the latter two are essentialy metropolitan areas with one central city, Utrecht and Groningen, with suburban municipalities. Overijssel has two parts: Twente (twin cities: Enschede / Hengelo) and (the remaining) province of Overijssel (including a.o. Zwolle, Lelystad, Kampen). Brabant has two parts: Eindhoven and West Brabant, including the cities of Breda, Den Bosch and Tilburg. Zuid-Holland on the other hand is like Utrecht and Groningen a metropolitan area but of the twin city a.k.a. Rotterdam / The Hague with suburban municipalities (including a.o. Delft and Leiden). North Holland is like Brabant divided into two areas: North Holland as a province with Alkmaar as its main city and of course.....Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (including Almere, Gooi, Haarlem, Airport Schiphol / Haarlemmermeer and Port of Amsterdam / Zaanstad).
Illustrative for above categorisation are various social infrastructures, which play a central role in those regional (metro) areas: Universities, Academic Hospitals, Airports and cultural heritage. In my view this confirms the redundancy of one administration level. Since metropolitan areas coincide with province level, one administration level seems more effective and efficient than two. Bycatch is that if citizens feel more committed to its region, the voter turnout ratios will increase and hence the level of democracy will enhance.
In summary my regional market approach and design of a Contemporary Public Administration for The Netherlands are the following:
15 mei 23 - DUTCH CARIBBEAN Aruba: Voorjaarseditie 2023 - (NBA verplicht PE onderwerp 2023) Duurzaamheid
17 mei 23 - DUTCH CARIBBEAN Curaçao: Voorjaarseditie 2023 - (NBA verplicht PE onderwerp 2023) Duurzaamheid
12 sep 23 - DUTCH CARIBBEAN Aruba: Zomereditie 2023
15 sep 23 - DUTCH CARIBBEAN Curaçao: Zomereditie 2023
14 nov 23 - DUTCH CARIBBEAN Aruba: Najaarseditie 2023
17 nov 23 - DUTCH CARIBBEAN Curaçao: Najaarseditie 2023
Datum: 08 jun 22
Auteur: Endymion Struijs