Evaluation of local government modernization: Implementation and effects of the "New Steering Modell" in German municipalities

The article aims at an evaluation of the New Public Management-inspired reform in German local governments which under the heading of the "New Steering Model (NSM)" spread over the municipalities like a "bush fire". Since the research on Public Sector Reforms has so far largely been concentrated on institutional and instrumental change in Public Administrations there is now as ever only little empirical evidence concerning the actual changes and results of reform initiatives. Against this background, in the following article the attempt will finally be made to focus on results and effects of the local governments' reform activities which have been achieved after 10 years of NSM-modernization and, thus, to outline perspectives for institutional-ortiented evaluations in the future.