Interorganizational Co-operation and the Implementation of Labour Market Training Policies: Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany

Abstract

In this article a theory of interorganizational co-operation is utilized to render some cases of local implementation understandable. The policy studied is labour market training and placement. Data from four locales in Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany are analysed. In each nation one more- and one less-successful community are examined. First, the author compares the administrative requirements of the labour market task with the two national policies to assess their suitability. Then reasons for the degree of policy success and degree of interorganizational co-operation observed are sought. Perceived common interest in the locale and the presence of an interorganiza tional facilitative agent seem to be among the factors which affect co-operation. Some conclusions and implications for policy makers, implementers, and students of administration are sketched.