Economic and governance Economic and governance Kurt Houlberg Professor, Cand.scient.pol., PhD Economic and governance Economic and governance Key Expertise: Democracy, Administration, Organization, Municipalities and regions, Styring, Improving efficiency, Governance, Key figures, Local Government Reforms, Public private partnerships, Intermunicipal Equalization +45 31 57 66 84 kuho@vive.dk VIVE Governance and Management Copenhagen Download CV VIVE Governance and Management Copenhagen +45 31 57 66 84 kuho@vive.dk Download CV Publications Profile Areas Economic and governance Udgivelser Eksperter Nyheder Arrangementer Undersøgelser Areas Economic and governance Udgivelser Eksperter Nyheder Arrangementer Undersøgelser Kurt's highlighted publications Report 30. OCT 2017 Kommunalpolitisk barometer 2017 Bhatti, Y., Houlberg, K., Thranholm, E., & Pedersen, L. H. (2017). Kommunalpolitisk barometer 2017. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Management and implementation Management and implementation Scientific article 31. JAN 2018 Lokale styringsvilkårs betydning for kommunernes økonomiske styring - fungerer sanktionslovgivningen som brandtæppe eller ilttelt? Houlberg, K. (2018). Lokale styringsvilkårs betydning for kommunernes økonomiske styring - fungerer sanktionslovgivningen som brandtæppe eller ilttelt? Politica, 50(1), 45-64. Scientific article 30. NOV 2016 Jurisdiction Size and Local Government Policy Expenditure Blom-Hansen, J., Houlberg, K., Serritzlew, S., & Treisman, D. (2016). Jurisdiction Size and Local Government Policy Expenditure: Assessing the Effect of Municipal Amalgamation. American Political Science Review, 110(4), 812-831. Scientific article 18. FEB 2015 Contracting out local services Petersen, O. H., Houlberg, K., & Christensen, L. R. (2015). Contracting out local services: A tale of technical and social services. Public Administration Review, 75(4), 560-570. Scientific article 15. JAN 2015 Political Consensus and Fiscal Outcomes Houlberg, K., & Pedersen, L. H. (2015). Political Consensus and Fiscal Outcomes. Local Government Studies, 41(1), 78-99. Scientific article 17. OCT 2014 Size, Democracy and the Economic Costs of Running the Political System Blom-Hansen, J., Houlberg, K., & Serritzlew, S. (2014). Size, Democracy and the Economic Costs of Running the Political System. American Journal of Political Science, 58(4), 790-803. Report 13. JUN 2013 Benchmarking og effektivitetsanalyse på folkeskoleområdet Houlberg, K., Larsen, B. Ø., & Rangvid, B. S. (2013). Benchmarking og effektivitetsanalyse på folkeskoleområdet. KORA. Scientific article FEB 2018 How is Political Influence Redistributed in Times of Fiscal Austerity? Houlberg, K., Hansen, S. W., & Pedersen, L. H. (2018). How is Political Influence Redistributed in Times of Fiscal Austerity? Scandinavian Political Studies, 41(1), 98-119. https://doi.org/0.1111/1467-9477.12110 Mini report 11. MAY 2023 VIVEs kommunetal 2023.5: Kommunerne overskrider igen budgetterne for udsatte grupper Ruge, M., & Houlberg, K. (2023, May 11). VIVEs kommunetal 2023.5: Kommunerne overskrider igen budgetterne for udsatte grupper. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Economic and governance Economic and governance Scientific article 28. APR 2023 Local government amalgamations and pre-merger overspending: Central naivety meets local opportunism Askim, J., Houlberg, K., & Klausen, J. E. (2023). Local government amalgamations and pre-merger overspending: Central naivety meets local opportunism. Journal of Urban Affairs. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2023.2187302 Mini report 9. MAR 2023 VIVEs kommunetal 2023.2: Kommunerne budgetterer med stigende serviceudgifter pr. indbygger Houlberg, K., & Ruge, M. (2023, Mar 9). VIVEs kommunetal 2023.2: Kommunerne budgetterer med stigende serviceudgifter pr. indbygger. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance Debate contribution 2. MAR 2023 Flere og flere forældre vender folkeskolen ryggen. Og nej, det er ikke kun de rige Houlberg, K., & Hvidman, U. (2023). Flere og flere forældre vender folkeskolen ryggen. Og nej, det er ikke kun de rige. Altinget. https://www.altinget.dk/uddannelse/artikel/vive-flere-og-flere-foraeldre-vender-folkeskolen-ryggen-og-nej-det-er-ikke-kun-de-rige Management and implementation Economic and governance Children, youth and family Daycare, school and education Management and implementation, Economic and governance, Children, youth and family, Daycare, school and education Mini report 28. FEB 2023 VIVEs kommunetal 2023.1: Flere forældre vælger privatskoler – særligt i yderkommunerne Houlberg, K., & Kollin, M. S. (2023, Feb 28). VIVEs kommunetal 2023.1: Flere forældre vælger privatskoler – særligt i yderkommunerne. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Book contribution 24. FEB 2023 Effects of strengthened economic incentives in a decentralized active labour market policy (ALMP) context – the 2016 reform in Denmark Pedersen, N. J. M., & Houlberg, K. (2023). Effects of strengthened economic incentives in a decentralized active labour market policy (ALMP) context – the 2016 reform in Denmark. In N. J. M. Pedersen, & H-A. Kim (Eds.), Changing labour market and the role of subnational governments : The Copenhagen Workshop 2018 (pp. 46-81). The Korea Institute of Public Finance . https://www.vive.dk/da/udgivelser/changing-labour-market-and-the-role-of-subnational-governments-4z61m3xq/ Labor market Labor market Scientific article 2023 Why such a different choice of tools? Analysing recent local government reforms in Denmark and Norway Vabo, S., Fimreite, A. L., & Houlberg, K. (2023). Why such a different choice of tools? Analysing recent local government reforms in Denmark and Norway. Local Government Studies, 49(2), 355-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2021.2013210 Management and implementation Management and implementation Scientific article 5. MAR 2024 The administrative burden of doing business with the government: Learning and compliance costs in Business‐Government interactions Petersen, O. H., Hansen, J. R., & Houlberg, K. (2024). The administrative burden of doing business with the government: Learning and compliance costs in Business‐Government interactions. Public Administration, 102(1), 188-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12904 Scientific article 5. DEC 2022 Fiscal easing in local governments facing potential merger: Visible in budgets or hidden in overruns? Askim, J., Houlberg, K., & Klausen, J. E. (2022). Fiscal easing in local governments facing potential merger: Visible in budgets or hidden in overruns? Public Administration, 100(4), 999-1018. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12781 Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance Scientific article DEC 2022 “Top-down” local government mergers: Political and institutional factors facilitating radical amalgamation reforms Callanan, M., Houlberg, K., Raudla, R., & Teles, F. (2022). “Top-down” local government mergers: Political and institutional factors facilitating radical amalgamation reforms. Journal of Urban Affairs, (Latest Articles). https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2022.2144335 Mini report 29. NOV 2022 VIVEs kommunetal 2022.7: Indkomster stiger mest for mænd og mest i bykommunerne Houlberg, K., & Ibsen, J. T. (2022, Nov 29). VIVEs kommunetal 2022.7: Indkomster stiger mest for mænd og mest i bykommunerne. Labor market Management and implementation Economic and governance Labor market, Management and implementation, Economic and governance Debate contribution 4. NOV 2022 Blogindlæg: Frikommuner viser potentialet i afbureaukratisering og frisættelse Hjelmar, U., & Houlberg, K. (2022). Blogindlæg: Frikommuner viser potentialet i afbureaukratisering og frisættelse. Altinget. https://www.altinget.dk/aeldre/artikel/vive-frikommuner-viser-potentialet-i-afbureaukratisering-og-frisaettelse?SNSubscribed=true&ref=newsletter&refid=altinget-dk-aeldre-normal-45&utm_campaign=Altinget%20DK%20-%20%C3%86ldre&utm_content=Altinget%20DK%20-%20%C3%86ldre%20%28Normal%29&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=nyhedsbrev Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance Kurt's igangværende undersøgelser Project 1. JAN 2013 — 31. DEC 2025 KOMMUNERNES ØKONOMISKE STYRINGSTAL Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance Project 1. JAN 2016 — 31. DEC 2025 Reshaping the local Govt. map Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance Project 1. SEP 2016 — 31. DEC 2024 COPS Project 1. JAN 2018 — 31. DEC 2025 ECO Nøgletal Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance Project 1. SEP 2021 — 31. DEC 2024 POLYGOV_Covid-19 politik i nordiske kommuner Management and implementation Economic and governance Health Management and implementation, Economic and governance, Health Project 1. OCT 2022 — 28. FEB 2024 Økonomistyring på ældreområdet Economic and governance The Elderly Economic and governance, The Elderly
Report 30. OCT 2017 Kommunalpolitisk barometer 2017 Bhatti, Y., Houlberg, K., Thranholm, E., & Pedersen, L. H. (2017). Kommunalpolitisk barometer 2017. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Management and implementation Management and implementation
Scientific article 31. JAN 2018 Lokale styringsvilkårs betydning for kommunernes økonomiske styring - fungerer sanktionslovgivningen som brandtæppe eller ilttelt? Houlberg, K. (2018). Lokale styringsvilkårs betydning for kommunernes økonomiske styring - fungerer sanktionslovgivningen som brandtæppe eller ilttelt? Politica, 50(1), 45-64.
Scientific article 30. NOV 2016 Jurisdiction Size and Local Government Policy Expenditure Blom-Hansen, J., Houlberg, K., Serritzlew, S., & Treisman, D. (2016). Jurisdiction Size and Local Government Policy Expenditure: Assessing the Effect of Municipal Amalgamation. American Political Science Review, 110(4), 812-831.
Scientific article 18. FEB 2015 Contracting out local services Petersen, O. H., Houlberg, K., & Christensen, L. R. (2015). Contracting out local services: A tale of technical and social services. Public Administration Review, 75(4), 560-570.
Scientific article 15. JAN 2015 Political Consensus and Fiscal Outcomes Houlberg, K., & Pedersen, L. H. (2015). Political Consensus and Fiscal Outcomes. Local Government Studies, 41(1), 78-99.
Scientific article 17. OCT 2014 Size, Democracy and the Economic Costs of Running the Political System Blom-Hansen, J., Houlberg, K., & Serritzlew, S. (2014). Size, Democracy and the Economic Costs of Running the Political System. American Journal of Political Science, 58(4), 790-803.
Report 13. JUN 2013 Benchmarking og effektivitetsanalyse på folkeskoleområdet Houlberg, K., Larsen, B. Ø., & Rangvid, B. S. (2013). Benchmarking og effektivitetsanalyse på folkeskoleområdet. KORA.
Scientific article FEB 2018 How is Political Influence Redistributed in Times of Fiscal Austerity? Houlberg, K., Hansen, S. W., & Pedersen, L. H. (2018). How is Political Influence Redistributed in Times of Fiscal Austerity? Scandinavian Political Studies, 41(1), 98-119. https://doi.org/0.1111/1467-9477.12110
Mini report 11. MAY 2023 VIVEs kommunetal 2023.5: Kommunerne overskrider igen budgetterne for udsatte grupper Ruge, M., & Houlberg, K. (2023, May 11). VIVEs kommunetal 2023.5: Kommunerne overskrider igen budgetterne for udsatte grupper. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Economic and governance Economic and governance
Scientific article 28. APR 2023 Local government amalgamations and pre-merger overspending: Central naivety meets local opportunism Askim, J., Houlberg, K., & Klausen, J. E. (2023). Local government amalgamations and pre-merger overspending: Central naivety meets local opportunism. Journal of Urban Affairs. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2023.2187302
Mini report 9. MAR 2023 VIVEs kommunetal 2023.2: Kommunerne budgetterer med stigende serviceudgifter pr. indbygger Houlberg, K., & Ruge, M. (2023, Mar 9). VIVEs kommunetal 2023.2: Kommunerne budgetterer med stigende serviceudgifter pr. indbygger. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd. Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Debate contribution 2. MAR 2023 Flere og flere forældre vender folkeskolen ryggen. Og nej, det er ikke kun de rige Houlberg, K., & Hvidman, U. (2023). Flere og flere forældre vender folkeskolen ryggen. Og nej, det er ikke kun de rige. Altinget. https://www.altinget.dk/uddannelse/artikel/vive-flere-og-flere-foraeldre-vender-folkeskolen-ryggen-og-nej-det-er-ikke-kun-de-rige Management and implementation Economic and governance Children, youth and family Daycare, school and education Management and implementation, Economic and governance, Children, youth and family, Daycare, school and education
Mini report 28. FEB 2023 VIVEs kommunetal 2023.1: Flere forældre vælger privatskoler – særligt i yderkommunerne Houlberg, K., & Kollin, M. S. (2023, Feb 28). VIVEs kommunetal 2023.1: Flere forældre vælger privatskoler – særligt i yderkommunerne. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd.
Book contribution 24. FEB 2023 Effects of strengthened economic incentives in a decentralized active labour market policy (ALMP) context – the 2016 reform in Denmark Pedersen, N. J. M., & Houlberg, K. (2023). Effects of strengthened economic incentives in a decentralized active labour market policy (ALMP) context – the 2016 reform in Denmark. In N. J. M. Pedersen, & H-A. Kim (Eds.), Changing labour market and the role of subnational governments : The Copenhagen Workshop 2018 (pp. 46-81). The Korea Institute of Public Finance . https://www.vive.dk/da/udgivelser/changing-labour-market-and-the-role-of-subnational-governments-4z61m3xq/ Labor market Labor market
Scientific article 2023 Why such a different choice of tools? Analysing recent local government reforms in Denmark and Norway Vabo, S., Fimreite, A. L., & Houlberg, K. (2023). Why such a different choice of tools? Analysing recent local government reforms in Denmark and Norway. Local Government Studies, 49(2), 355-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2021.2013210 Management and implementation Management and implementation
Scientific article 5. MAR 2024 The administrative burden of doing business with the government: Learning and compliance costs in Business‐Government interactions Petersen, O. H., Hansen, J. R., & Houlberg, K. (2024). The administrative burden of doing business with the government: Learning and compliance costs in Business‐Government interactions. Public Administration, 102(1), 188-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12904
Scientific article 5. DEC 2022 Fiscal easing in local governments facing potential merger: Visible in budgets or hidden in overruns? Askim, J., Houlberg, K., & Klausen, J. E. (2022). Fiscal easing in local governments facing potential merger: Visible in budgets or hidden in overruns? Public Administration, 100(4), 999-1018. https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12781 Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Scientific article DEC 2022 “Top-down” local government mergers: Political and institutional factors facilitating radical amalgamation reforms Callanan, M., Houlberg, K., Raudla, R., & Teles, F. (2022). “Top-down” local government mergers: Political and institutional factors facilitating radical amalgamation reforms. Journal of Urban Affairs, (Latest Articles). https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2022.2144335
Mini report 29. NOV 2022 VIVEs kommunetal 2022.7: Indkomster stiger mest for mænd og mest i bykommunerne Houlberg, K., & Ibsen, J. T. (2022, Nov 29). VIVEs kommunetal 2022.7: Indkomster stiger mest for mænd og mest i bykommunerne. Labor market Management and implementation Economic and governance Labor market, Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Debate contribution 4. NOV 2022 Blogindlæg: Frikommuner viser potentialet i afbureaukratisering og frisættelse Hjelmar, U., & Houlberg, K. (2022). Blogindlæg: Frikommuner viser potentialet i afbureaukratisering og frisættelse. Altinget. https://www.altinget.dk/aeldre/artikel/vive-frikommuner-viser-potentialet-i-afbureaukratisering-og-frisaettelse?SNSubscribed=true&ref=newsletter&refid=altinget-dk-aeldre-normal-45&utm_campaign=Altinget%20DK%20-%20%C3%86ldre&utm_content=Altinget%20DK%20-%20%C3%86ldre%20%28Normal%29&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=nyhedsbrev Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Project 1. JAN 2013 — 31. DEC 2025 KOMMUNERNES ØKONOMISKE STYRINGSTAL Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Project 1. JAN 2016 — 31. DEC 2025 Reshaping the local Govt. map Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Project 1. JAN 2018 — 31. DEC 2025 ECO Nøgletal Management and implementation Economic and governance Management and implementation, Economic and governance
Project 1. SEP 2021 — 31. DEC 2024 POLYGOV_Covid-19 politik i nordiske kommuner Management and implementation Economic and governance Health Management and implementation, Economic and governance, Health
Project 1. OCT 2022 — 28. FEB 2024 Økonomistyring på ældreområdet Economic and governance The Elderly Economic and governance, The Elderly