Administering social security and health in Denmark: Between centralisation and decentralisation

Abstract

In Denmark, large parts of welfare have traditionally been the business of local authorities. In particular, municipalities have played an essential role because they have the power to levy taxes and their autonomy is guaranteed by the Constitution. Yet, most welfare schemes are regulated by acts of the Parliament. This contribution analyses the Danish set up and discusses the extent of decentralisation in the area of social security and health care, focusing on the criteria for the allocation of competences, financial arrangements and the issue of equality of treatment across the country. The article concludes that, while the export of social problems between municipalities is a well-known phenomenon in Denmark, social shopping does not seem to take place.