In this essay, I have investigated whether there are conditions for amalgamation between two Swedish municipalities, Bräcke and Ragunda in Jämtland County, and what these conditions look like in such cases. I have started from a theory by Askim and colleagues that intends to explain in which situations one can expect amalgamation reforms. In short, amalgamations can be expected if municipalities have financial problems that are rooted in problems caused by urbanization and decentralization.
I also present a research review with the aim of seeing if there is empirical support for the idea that amalgamation actually is solving the problems that municipalities have. The answer to this question is no. Despite this, municipal amalgamations are carried out.
After interviewing leading politicians and officials in the two municipalities, I can conclude that there are no prerequisites for an amalgamation between Bräcke and Ragunda. The politicians do not believe that a merger would solve the problems they have, and they believe that the popular resistance is too great. There may be objective reasons to merge all eight municipalities in Jämtland County, but even here the popular support is judged to be low, which is why no politician advocates such a solution.
2022-06-10