Reshaping the states of Western Europe has direct implications for their respective public sectors. Broad convergent pressures have led to largely similar reform programmes. However, differences remain across Western Europe in the nature, style, timing and pace of the reforms. These differences may be explained by analysing the nature of the pressures, the size and scope of the traditional public sector, the ambitions of governments, as well as their ideological commitment and political durability, and the domestic political opportunity structure. The reform programmes being pursued in several countries are characterised by contradictions, paradoxes and problems.
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