Signy Irene Vabo

• Klausen, Jan Erling; Mortensen, Peter Bjerre; Serritzlev, Søren & Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). The Geography of Local Politics: How Jurisdiction Size Shapes Local Policy Agendas. Journal of Public Policy. ISSN 0143-814X. Full text in Research Archive
• Geissel, Brigitte & Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). Democratic innovations to strengthen elected representatives? Discussing the benefits and limitations of mini-publics. Nordic Journal of Innovation in the Public Sector (NJIPS). 5(1), p. 17–17. doi: 10.18261/njips.5.1.1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Democratic innovations are viewed as potential solutions to the challenges faced by representative systems. Thus far, attention has focused on the importance of citizen participation. This article asks how mini-publics, currently the most prominent and widespread form of democratic innovation for involving citizens, may help politicians to better perform their representative role. We begin with the central theoretical understandings of representation and identify three ways in which citizen involvement can satisfy politicians’ representational needs: to obtain inclusive information, to communicate with citizens, and for citizens to possess a certain level of knowledge and civic skills. We argue that mini-publics can provide inclusive information for representatives. However, because deliberation takes place among participating citizens, mini-publics seldom facilitate a direct exchange of views between elected representatives and citizens. Finally, only a small proportion of the citizenry participates in mini-publics, but these forums can contribute to enhancing citizens’ knowledge and civic skills.

• Winsvold, Marte & Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). What do local politicians want from citizen participation? Representational orientations and participatory preferences in Norwegian local government: a Q study. Local Government Studies. ISSN 0300-3930. doi: 10.1080/03003930.2026.2682338. Full text in Research Archive
• Klausen, Jan Erling; Lo, Christian; Vabo, Signy Irene & Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold (2026). Why show up? Understanding why politicians attend public meetings. European Journal of Political Research. ISSN 0304-4130. doi: 10.1017/S1475676526100899. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This article examines what motivates elected representatives to engage with citizens in organised settings, specifically investigating the role of anticipatory representation – aligning policies with future voter preferences. Using representation theory, the study involves in-depth interviews with representatives in three Norwegian municipalities, focusing on their perception of public meetings as avenues for listening, convincing, and deliberating. The findings suggest that anticipatory representation minimally influences politicians’ attendance at these meetings. Instead, they view public meetings primarily as opportunities to listen to citizens rather than as platforms for persuasion or policy deliberation. Despite often disliking the confrontational aspects of these meetings, politicians attend to demonstrate presence and show interest in their constituents. Thus, the main motivation for their participation is the chance to exhibit responsiveness, rather than engaging in argumentative or deliberative exchanges. This research sheds light on the dynamics of politician–citizen interactions in democratic settings.

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2025). Municipalities and Regions: Further Reform Required. In Kolltveit, Kristoffer; Allern, Elin Haugsgjerd; Braut-Hegghammer, Målfrid & Rasch, Bjørn Erik (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Norwegian Politics. Oxford University Press. ISSN 9780198888581. p. 153–172. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198888581.013.0009. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This handbook provides a comprehensive examination of Norway’s political institutions, electoral politics, public policymaking, and international relations. As the introductory chapter highlights, Norway is a highly consolidated, homogeneous, corporatist, and consensus-orientated democracy having faced rapid economic growth, significant government access to massive oil revenues, deindustrialization, public-sector expansion, increasing cultural pluralism, and economic inequality, as well as growing party system fragmentation and the decline of the once dominant Social Democratic Party. Each chapter offers foundational knowledge about the present Norwegian system while presenting state-of-the-art overviews of key issues and findings drawn from the most relevant research in their respective fields. Additionally, the chapters provide original analyses of more specialized topics or trace historical developments and overarching trends. The handbook is designed primarily for scholars and students specializing in the covered topics, but it is also intended to serve a secondary readership that includes politicians, journalists, and other individuals interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Norwegian politics. The authors, selected for their in-depth knowledge and expertise as well as their proven track record of publishing research in highly ranked international outlets, offer valuable insights into the different aspects of Norwegian politics. Although the primary focus is on research within political science, contributions from disciplines such as public law, history, and education science are also included. This diverse set of authors brings extensive expertise and presents the chapters in an accessible manner, making this handbook an indispensable resource for understanding Norwegian politics.

• Winsvold, Marte & Vabo, Signy Irene (2023). How well do participatory governance arrangements serve political leadership? Governance. An International Journal of Policy, Administration and Institutions. ISSN 0952-1895. doi: 10.1111/gove.12825. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Participatory governance arrangements are assumed to strengthen elected representatives' capacity for political leadership. This study argues that the relationship between participatory arrangements and perceived political leadership depends on the design of the participatory arrangements. Drawing on a survey to local councilors in Norway, we found that sharing power with citizens through interactive governance arrangements was associated with lower perceived capacity for political leadership than giving power away through distributive arrangements. Case studies exploring how politicians experienced interactive and distributive participatory arrangements showed that politicians were especially ambivalent about interactive arrangements that were perceived to disrupt their traditional ways of doing political leadership. Notably, interactive arrangements were believed to decrease leadership capacity because politicians remained responsible for matters over which they no longer had full control, challenging their ability to stay accountable to the voters.

• Vabo, Signy Irene & Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold (2022). A framework for analyzing organizational culture among politicians: Exploring implications for participatory governance schemes. Public Administration. ISSN 0033-3298. p. 1–15. doi: 10.1111/padm.12868. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this article, we develop a theoretical framework for investigating how organizational culture relates to the roles of elected representatives. Based on Douglas's grid and group logic, our framework evaluates two cultural dimensions, negotiability and conflictuality, upon which these roles depend. The negotiability dimension describes elected representatives' roles from a strictly hierarchical and bounded notion of how politics should be handled to a horizontal and inclusive notion. The conflictuality dimension considers politics as confrontation versus a deliberative consensus-oriented way of handling political issues. By investigating a participatory governance measure called “task committees”, we examine how the framework functions empirically. Our analysis shows how different aspects of organizational culture are reflected in councilors' interpretations of and practices related to this interactive participatory governance scheme and illuminates the implications of organizational culture for the use of such schemes.

• Klausen, Jan Erling; Vabo, Signy Irene & Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold (2022). Competing perspectives on participatory arrangements: Explaining the attitudes of elected representatives. International Political Science Review. ISSN 0192-5121. doi: 10.1177/01925121221092600. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In this article, we investigate elected representatives’ attitudes to citizen participation and the design of participatory arrangements. We distinguish between citizenship-oriented and governance-oriented attitudes. Whereas citizenship-oriented attitudes imply designing participatory arrangements to safeguard the democratic values of equality, transparency and inclusion, governance-oriented attitudes imply designing participatory arrangements to support elected representatives in their roles. Based on unique data from a web-based survey sent to all local councillors in Norway, we found that although Norwegian local councillors tend towards citizenship-oriented rather than governance-oriented attitudes to citizen participation, there is great variation between councillors in this respect. Analysing strategic and ideological explanations, we found that right-wing politicians tend to hold more governance-oriented attitudes than left-wing politicians do. Strategic considerations seem to have no effect on councillors in power in this regard.

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2021). Questioning the administrative impact on democratic innovations. In Pinheiro, Romulo & Trondal, Jarle (Ed.), Organizing and Governing Governmental Institutions. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245035322. p. 225–249. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene; Fimreite, Anne Lise & Houlberg, Kurt (2021). Why such a different choice of tools? Analysing recent local government reforms in Denmark and Norway. Local Government Studies. ISSN 0300-3930. doi: 10.1080/03003930.2021.2013210. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Local government amalgamation reforms are politically demanding ventures because potential benefits are often diffuse and long term, while costs are concentrated and immediate. We investigate the role of national political actors in forming alliances and choosing policy tools in such demanding reform contexts. Empirically, we compare the Danish amalgamation reform, characterised by the use of authoritative government tools and a nationally directed amalgamation process, and the Norwegian reform, which primarily used softer tools that involved substantial autonomy at the local level. Our analysis is built on a rich set of qualitative data. We show that differences in the pro-reform alliances established by the two national governments help explain the different choices of government tools for carrying out the local government reforms. A strong pro-reform alliance, as was the case in Denmark, lent legitimacy to the use of authoritative tools.

• Røiseland, Asbjørn; Vabo, Signy Irene; Sørensen, Eva & Torfing, Jacob (2020). Folkevalgt og politisk leder. In Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Folkevalgt og politisk leder. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202679187. p. 9–30. doi: 10.23865/noasp.80. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This chapter introduces the book. In the first part, we discuss different meanings of “political leadership”, arguing that political leadership should be understood as three interrelated functions: Identifying problems, give direction and mobilizing support. After discussing important theoretical trends in political leadership research, the chapter sums up relevant former Norwegian research in the field. In the latter part, the chapter introduces four paradoxes that will structure the book. The four paradoxes are related to “conflict”, “administration”, “openness” and “democracy”. The latter part also explains the empirical strategy, and why we have chosen to compare Norwegian and Danish local governments. In a brief and subsequent chapter, we point to some interesting similarities and differences between Norway and Denmark.

• Lo, Christian & Vabo, Signy Irene (2020). Administrasjonsparadokset. Farvel til timeglassmodellen? In Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Folkevalgt og politisk leder. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202679187. p. 62–89. Full text in Research Archive
• Sørensen, Eva & Vabo, Signy Irene (2020). A Public Innovation Perspective on Change in Local Democracy. The Innovation Journal - Public Sector Innovation Journal. ISSN 1715-3816. 25(1), p. 1–19. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2020). Administrators as Drivers of Democratic Innovations. The Innovation Journal - Public Sector Innovation Journal. ISSN 1715-3816. 25(1), p. 1–20. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2019). Size and Democracy Revisited. A Critical Discussion of the Claimed Trade-off between Problem-Solving Capacity and Citizen Participation. Lex Localis. ISSN 1581-5374. 17(2), p. 285–298. doi: 10.4335/17.2.285-298(2019. Full text in Research Archive
• Reichborn-Kjennerud, Kristin & Vabo, Signy Irene (2017). Performance audit as a contribution to change and improvement in public administration. Evaluation: International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice. ISSN 1356-3890. 23(1), p. 6–23. doi: 10.1177/1356389016683871. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The last 30 years of the New Public Management ‘regime’ in many western countries have resulted in increased use of audit and other control mechanisms. These mechanisms are supposed to contribute both to accountability and improvement. In this article, theories of evaluation and organizational learning are used to understand how the dynamics of control affect change processes. We analyse responses to performance audit reports carried out by the country’s Supreme Audit Institution – an important control institution in Norway, as in most other countries. The findings are primarily based on survey data from 353 Norwegian civil servants. The auditees reported that they were mostly positive towards the reports and used them to make improvements in their control systems; however, civil servants also perceived the reports to be unbalanced. The results indicate that the performance audits’ contributions to improvements are less clear than they appear to be at first glance, and that personal and political factors may affect civil servants’ responses.

• Askim, Jostein; Klausen, Jan Erling; Vabo, Signy Irene & Bjurstrøm, Karl Hagen (2017). Territorial upscaling of local governments: A variable-oriented approach to explaining variance among Western European countries. Local Government Studies. ISSN 0300-3930. 43(4), p. 555–576. doi: 10.1080/03003930.2017.1310102. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Local government systems change at varying speeds. While some countries have dramatically reduced the number of local governments during a short period of time, other countries have seen only incremental change or relative inertia. A number of explanations for structural change have been put forward in the comparative local government literature, but these explanations have to a small extent been tested empirically. This article uses statistical indicators to analyse changes in the local government systems in 17 Western European countries between 2004 and 2014. Some often-cited explanations for what drives structural change receive little support. Still, the article demonstrates that changes tend to occur in situations marked by different combinations of decentralisation, urbanisation, fiscal stress and a recent history of territorial upscaling. The final version of this research has been published in Local Government Studies. © 2017 Taylor & Francis

• Vabo, Signy Irene & Burau, Viola (2017). Governing the coordination of care for older people: Comparing care agreements in Denmark and Norway. International Journal of Social Welfare. ISSN 1369-6866. 28(1), p. 5–15. doi: 10.1111/ijsw.12280. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Increasing specialisation and demands to decrease the length of hospital stays have important consequences for the integration of specialised health and local care services. Based on case studies of care agreements in Denmark and Norway, this article compares subnational governance strategies for coordinating care services for older people discharged from hospitals. The question is how, and to what degree, national government regulations have an impact on local service coordination strategies. The analysis reveals that the numerous subnational procedures for coordination are somewhat more itemised in Denmark, and that regional variation in care agreements is greater in Norway. The identified differences can partly be accounted for by national differences in regulation, which is tighter in Denmark than in Norway. The study suggests that despite decentralisation of responsibility, subnational procedures to facilitate coordination are heavily influenced by national government policy. The final version of this research has been published in the International Journal of Social Welfare. © 2017 Wiley

• Leibetseder, Bettina; Anttonen, Anneli; Øverbye, Einar; Pace, Charles & Vabo, Signy Irene (2017). The Horizontal "re-mix" in social care: trends and implications for service provision. In Martinelli, Flavia; Anttonen, Anneli & Mätzke, Margitta (Ed.), Social Services Disrupted: Changes, Challenges and Policy Implications for Europe in Times of Austerity. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781786432100. p. 134–154. doi: 10.4337/9781786432117.00015. Full text in Research Archive
• Askim, Jostein; Klausen, Jan Erling; Vabo, Signy Irene & Bjurstrøm, Karl Hagen (2016). What Causes Municipal Amalgamation Reform? Rational Explanations Meet western European Experiences, 2004-13. In Kuhlmann, Sabine & Bouckaert, Geert (Ed.), Local Public Sector Reforms in Times of Crisis: National Trajectories and International Comparisons. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9781137525475. p. 59–79. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-52548-2_4. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Interactive – or counteractive – governance? Lessons learned about citizen participation and political leadership. In Edelenbos, Jurian & Meerkerk, Ingmar van (Ed.), Critical reflections on interactive governance. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781783479061. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene & Vabø, Mia (2016). Kontroll og tilsyn som kilder til kvalitetsforbedring :. Nordiske organisasjonsstudier. ISSN 1501-8237. 18(1), p. 56–78. Full text in Research Archive
• Reichborn-Kjennerud, Kristin & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Extensive Decentralisation - but in the Shadow of Hierarchy. In Ruano, Jose & Profiroiu, Marius (Ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Decentralisation in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783319324371. p. 253–272. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-32437-1_10. Full text in Research Archive
• Klausen, Jan Erling; Askim, Jostein & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Kommunereformen i Norge. In Klausen, Jan Erling; Askim, Jostein & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Kommunereform i perspektiv. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245018912. p. 25–46. Full text in Research Archive
• Askim, Jostein; Klausen, Jan Erling & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Kommunereformen og dens alternativer. In Klausen, Jan Erling; Askim, Jostein & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Kommunereform i perspektiv. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245018912. p. 275–290. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Velferdens organisering - mellom styring, ledelse og læring. In Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Velferdens organisering. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215023755. p. 175–197. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Flernivåorganisering - lokal skreddersøm og nasjonale standarder. In Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Velferdens organisering. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215023755. p. 158–174. Full text in Research Archive
• Torjesen, Dag Olaf & Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Samhandlingsreformen – virkemidler for koordinering. In Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Velferdens organisering. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215023755. p. 138–157. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene & Aars, Jacob (2013). New public management reforms and democratic legitimacy: notions of democratic legitimacy among West European local councillors. Local Government Studies. ISSN 0300-3930. 39(5), p. 703–720. doi: 10.1080/03003930.2012.670749. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The article extends the question about the notion of democracy to the concept of democratic legitimacy and distinguishes between input and output-based legitimacy. We explore local councillors’ view on the two alternative notions of legitimacy. The first question is descriptive and concerns the support for alternative notions of democratic legitimacy among councillors across twelve West European countries. What notion of legitimacy receives the stronger support: input-based legitimacy, associated with representative democracy and participation, or output-based legitimacy, emphasising the performance of democratic institutions – as promoted by New Public Management reforms? The second question is explanatory and concerns whether the view held by the councillors depends on the multi-level government system in a specific country. We assume that the more responsibility for the production of welfare services held by local government, the more support output-oriented legitimacy measures is likely to receive. We find that our measures of input-based legitimacy receive more widespread support than the measures of output-based legitimacy. As regards the impact of local government systems and responsibilities held by local governments our main hypothesis does gain some support, but the results are not significant. A reasonable interpretation of the fairly weak findings at this point is that local government in all European countries has a strong political foundation. Despite system differences and NPM reforms, European councillors appear to be strongly attached to their traditional representative role.

• Hanssen, Gro Sandkjær & Vabo, Signy Irene (2012). Sykehjem til alle? Om nasjonale partipolitiske mål og lokale tilpasninger. In Reitan, Marit; Saglie, Jo & Smith, Eivind (Ed.), Det norske flernivådemokratiet. Abstrakt forlag. ISSN 9788279353218. p. 137–166. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Forholdet mellom lokaldemokrati og nasjonal styring står sentralt i debatten om hvilken rolle kommunene skal ha. Samtidig som mange politiske partier tar til orde for desentralisering av forvaltning og politisk beslutningsmyndighet, har staten sterke styringsambisjoner. Dette gjelder ikke minst i velferdspolitikken, der kommunene står for mye av tjenesteytingen. Denne boken viser hvordan ulike dilemmaer mellom lokaldemokrati og statlig styring kommer til uttrykk i forholdet mellom folkevalgte organer, offentlig forvaltning og politiske partier i stat, fylke og kommune – og hvordan de eventuelt løses. Boken inneholder både generelle bidrag og nærstudier av eldreomsorg og naturvern. Den bringer sammen perspektiver fra tre ulike forskningstradisjoner: rettsvitenskap samt statsvitenskapelig forskning om partier og om offentlig politikk og administrasjon. Boken vil være av interesse for alle som er opptatt av demokratiets vilkår i stat og kommuner, ikke minst forskere og studenter i relevante fag.

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• Jacobsen, Dag Ingvar & Vabo, Signy Irene (2024). Koordinering, samordning og samarbeid - i og mellom organisasjoner. Fagbokforlaget. ISBN 9788245048940. Full text in Research Archive
• Hansen, Gro Sandkjær; Helgesen, Marit Kristine & Vabo, Signy Irene (2024). Politikk og demokrati - en innføring i stats- og kommunalkunnskap, 5. utgave. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205604759. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2020). Folkevalgt og politisk leder. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISBN 9788202679187. 180 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene; Klausen, Jan Erling & Askim, Jostein (2020). Offentlig politikk. Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 9788215031958. 264 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Hanssen, Gro Sandkjær; Helgesen, Marit Kristine & Vabo, Signy Irene (2018). Politikk og demokrati. En innføring i stats- og kommunbalkunnskap. 4. utgave. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205512436. 367 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Styring og samstyring - governance på norsk. Fagbokforlaget. ISBN 9788245019995. 182 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Styring og samstyring. Fagbokforlaget. ISBN 9788245019995. 208 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Klausen, Jan Erling; Askim, Jostein & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Kommunereform i perspektiv. Fagbokforlaget. ISBN 9788245018912. 323 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Velferdens organisering. Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 9788215023755. 224 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Røiseland, Asbjørn & Vabo, Signy Irene (2012). Styring og samstyring. Fagbokforlaget. ISBN 9788245010565. 180 p. Full text in Research Archive

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• Lo, Christian & Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). Administering democratic innovation – exploring the limits of bureaucratic approaches to democratization. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

• Birkeland, Monica & Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). #88 Den om kompetansebevissthet. doi: https:/www.nokut.no/utdanningskvalitet/nokut-podden/. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Statsvitenskap er arbeidslivsrelevant, men hjelper det om ikke studentene klarer å sette ord på hvordan? I denne episoden møter vi Monika Birkeland og Signy Irene Vabo fra Institutt for statsvitenskap ved Universitetet i Oslo som snakker om hvordan de jobber for å gjøre studentene sine mer bevisste på kompetansen de bygger gjennom studiene. Gjennom praksisemner, prosjektarbeid, alumnitiltak og arbeid med læringsutbyttebeskrivelser har instituttet utviklet en bred verktøykasse for å styrke koblingen mellom studier og arbeidsliv. Hva fungerer, hvilke utfordringer møter de, og hvilke råd har de til andre som vil gjøre det samme?

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). Podkast uten portefølje: Ny kommunepod! doi: https:/www.kruselarsen.no/podkast/ny-kommunepod-og-ukraina-spesial. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vi graver mer i Kommune-Norges utfordringer. Hør hva kommunalminister Bjørnar Skjæran, tidligere byråd i Bergen, Jacob Mæhle og kommuneprofessor Signy Irene Vabo mener er problemet - og løsningen.

• Geissel, Brigitte; Vabo, Signy Irene & Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold (2026). Politicians’ Trust in Citizens as a Precondition for Inviting Citizens to Participate. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This paper investigates the foundations of local politicians’ trust in citizens and examines how different bases of trust relate to politicians’ receptiveness to distinct forms of citizen participation. We conceptualize politicians’ trust in citizens along perceptions of competence, common-good orientation, and discernment. The analyses are based on data from 2343 local councillors in Norway. Our findings show that trust in citizens is a key driver of receptiveness to participatory arrangements and outweighs standard political predictors such as ideology, office, and representational style. Crucially, however, not all bases of trust matter equally. The decisive factor is less whether politicians view citizens as civic minded or hard to manipulate than whether they regard them as capable contributors to policymaking. Politicians’ openness to consequential participation thus appears to rest on a role-specific conception of trustworthiness in which competence is a central condition for sharing political influence. We conclude by discussing implications for democratic innovation and the limits of participatory reforms.

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). Hurra for kommunestyret! doi: https:/www.kommunal-rapport.no/meninger/hurra-for-kommunestyret/848085. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Jeg heier på kommunestyret, som må samle trådene og stå til ansvar for helheten i tilbudet til innbyggerne.

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). Det er fare for at lokal­politikerne over­vurderer hvor tett de er på innbyggerne. doi: https:/www.kommunal-rapport.no/meninger/det-er-fare-for-at-lokalpolitikerne-overvurderer-hvor-tett-de-er-pa-innbyggerne/856692. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vi har et demokratisk problem dersom innbyggerne ikke oppfatter politikerne som lydhøre og beredt til å følge opp.

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). Ja til folkevalgt dialog med folk. doi: https:/www.kommunal-rapport.no/meninger/ja-til-folkevalgt-dialog-med-folk/869839. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Dialog alene løser ikke de utfordringene kommunesektoren står overfor, men er likevel nødvendig.

• Borge, Lars-Erik & Vabo, Signy Irene (2026). NOU 2026: 1 - En bærekraftig kommunesektor, Vedlegg 2 Eksterne virkninger som begrunnelse for statlig styring. doi: https:/www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/nou-2026-1/id3145481/. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Notatet presenterer en prinsipiell utredning av hvorvidt eksterne virkninger kan fungere som begrunnelse for statlig styring. Hensikten med notatet er å gi kommunekommisjonen et faglig grunnlag for å vurdere om oppgaver bør omfattes av statlig styring på grunn av eksterne virkninger, eller om oppgaver ikke kan antas å ha særlige eksterne virkninger – og i prinsippet derfor kan løses regionalt eller lokalt med liten eller ingen statlig innblanding.

• Vabo, Signy Irene (2025). Podkast uten portefølje: Norske kommuner i stabilt sideleie. doi: https:/www.kruselarsen.no/podkast/norske-kommuner-i-stabilt-sideleie. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vi har samlet et faglig sterkt panel som setter søkelyset på Kommune-Norge. De bruker sterke ord, som «dysfunksjonelt» og «stabilt sideleie». Og er løsningen tvunget interkommunalt samarbeid i store regioner? Hvordan kan norske kommuner systematisk bryte loven massivt hver eneste dag? Hvordan kan en kommune med 1000 innbyggere ha pådratt seg 140 millioner i kassakreditt? Hvordan kan en liten kommune i Lofoten mangle både helsesjef, oppvekstsjef, teknisk sjef, økonomisjef og plansjef? Og hvordan fikk vi kommuner som ikke henger geografisk sammen? Er det norske kommunesystemet på vei utfor bakke? Hør kommuneekspert Geir Vinsand fra NIVI Analyse, professor Signy Irene Vabo fra Universitet i Oslo og politisk redaktør i Kommunal Rapport, Agnar Kaarbø, i samtale med programleder Jan-Erik Larsen.

• Klausen, Jan Erling; Lo, Christian; Vabo, Signy Irene & Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold (2025). Why go to that meeting? Exploring politicians’ motivations for engaging with citizens between elections. Full text in Research Archive
• Nordrum, Jon Christian Fløysvik & Vabo, Signy Irene (2024). Forvaltningsrevisjon i Riksrevisjonen – behov for nye perspektiver. Stat & Styring. ISSN 0803-0103. 24(2), p. 130–135. doi: 10.18261/stat.34.2.10. Full text in Research Archive
• Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold & Vabo, Signy Irene (2024). Listen, interact, or mobilize? A q-sort of politicians’ preferences for organized citizen participation between elections. Full text in Research Archive
• Klausen, Jan Erling; Lo, Christian; Vabo, Signy Irene & Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold (2024). Why go to that meeting? Exploring politicians' motivations for engaging with citizens between elections. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene & Nordrum, Jon Christian Fløysvik (2024). Hindrer virkelig Grunnloven viktige endringer i Riksrevisjonens ledelse? Stat & Styring. ISSN 0803-0103. doi: 10.18261/stat.34.3.9. Full text in Research Archive
• Flo, Yngve; Askim, Jostein; Vabo, Signy Irene; Aars, Jacob; Klausen, Jan Erling & Fimreite, Anne Lise (2019). Følgjeforskingsprosjekt kommune- og regionreforma. Ein presentasjon for embetsverket i KMD. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Prosjektgruppa presenterte hovudfunn frå prosjektet tett opp mot original sluttdato. Målgruppe: Delane i embetsverket i KMD som arbeider med høvesvis kommunereforma og regionreforma.

• Flo, Yngve; Askim, Jostein; Vabo, Signy Irene; Fimreite, Anne Lise; Saglie, Jo & Aars, Jacob [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Følgjeforskingsprosjekt kommune- og regionreforma. Eit presentasjon for embetsverket i KMD. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene; Winsvold, Marte Slagsvold & Eva, Sørensen (2018). Designing institutions for interactive political leadership in local governments – possibilities and contingencies. Full text in Research Archive
• Askim, Jostein; Vabo, Signy Irene & Klausen, Jan Erling (2017). Hvordan skal det gå med kommunereformen? Stat & Styring. ISSN 0803-0103. p. 10–15. Full text in Research Archive
• Askim, Jostein; Klausen, Jan Erling & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Tvangstanker? p. 33–33. Full text in Research Archive
• Askim, Jostein; Klausen, Jan Erling & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Kommunereform i perspektiv. In Klausen, Jan Erling; Askim, Jostein & Vabo, Signy Irene (Ed.), Kommunereform i perspektiv. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245018912. p. 15–21. Full text in Research Archive
• Reichborn-Kjennerud, Kristin & Vabo, Signy Irene (2016). Styring, kontroll og organisasjonslæring. Nordiske organisasjonsstudier. ISSN 1501-8237. 18(1), p. 3–9. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2015). Controlling and inspecting nursing homes – any potential for learning, to improve the quality of care? Full text in Research Archive
• Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (2015). Kontroll og tilsyn i sykehjem - potensiale for læring og kvalitetsutvikling. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (2015). Administrative idealer møter praksis. p. 36–37. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabø, Mia & Vabo, Signy Irene (2015). Controlling and inspecting nursing homes – any potential for learning, to improve the quality of care? Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Ekspertutvalgets sluttrapport. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertutvalgets sluttrapport. Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Sluttrapporten fra ekspertutvalget. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Administrative argumenter for større kommuner. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Nye oppgaver - endrede kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Ekspertutvalgets sluttrapport. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kommunereform - kriterier for kommunestruktur og Ekspertutvalgets videre framdrift. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Universalisme og helseavtalene i Samhandlingsreformen. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertgruppens forslag til kriterier for kommunal oppgaveløsning - og kriteriene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Velferdens organisering - mellom styring, ledelse og læring. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertutvalgets forslag til kriterier kommunene bør oppfylle for å ivareta dagens oppgaver. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Større kommuner - større kraft. p. 17–17. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Ekspertutvalgets delrapport. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ny kommunestruktur i Norge? Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Ekspertutvalgets delrapport. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertutvalget som skal gi forslag til kriterier for ny kommunestruktur - orientering om utvalgets mandag og arbeid. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertutvalget kommenterer. Kommunal rapport. ISSN 0801-6410. p. 17–17. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Større kommuner - sterkere lokaldemokrati. p. 3–3. Full text in Research Archive
• Askim, Jostein; Klausen, Jan Erling & Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Paradoxes of Amalgamation Reforms. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Velferdstjenestenes flernivåorganisering - mellom lokal politikk og nasjonale standarder. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertgruppens forslag til kriterier for kommunal oppgaveløsning - og anbefalingene. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertutvalgets forslag til kriterier - god oppgaveløsning og et sterkt lokaldemokrati. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Hva har tidligere kriterier i Norge/Norden vært? Hva foreslår Ekspertutvalget og hvorfor? Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertutvalgets forslag til kriterier for ny kommunestruktur. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Kriterier for god kommunestruktur. Ekspertutvalgets delrapport. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Ekspertgruppens anbefalinger. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Dagsnytt 18. [TV]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2014). Dagsnytt 18. [TV]. NRK. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2013). Hva samordning er - og om noen utfordringer ved å evaluere effektivitet i samarbeid. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2013). Statlig styring av samhandlingsreformen – krevende lokale prioriteringer? Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2013). Fragmentering, kontroll og ansvarlighet - noen tanker om forskningens bidrag. Full text in Research Archive
• Reichborn-Kjennerud, Kristin & Vabo, Signy Irene (2013). The State Audit Institutions ability to trigger change in the audited entities. The case of performance audit in Norway. Full text in Research Archive
• Vabo, Signy Irene (2023). Statlig styring og likeverdige velferdstjenester. Kommunal- og distriktsdepartementet, NOU 2023:9 Generalistkommunesystemet Likt ansvar – ulike forutsetninge, vedlegg 2. Full text in Research Archive
• Kjærgaard, Marie; Houlberg, Kurt; Blom-Hansen, Jens; Vabo, Signy Irene & Sandberg, Siv (2020). De nordiske kommunalreformer. Nationale reformstrategier i Danmark, Norge og Finland. VIVE – Viden til Velfærd. ISSN 9788771197495. Full text in Research Archive
• Winsvold, Marte; Hanssen, Gro Sandkjær; Houlberg, Kurt; Klausen, Jan Erling; Saglie, Jo & Segaard, Signe Bock [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). Lokalpolitisk lederskap og medvirkning ved kommunesammenslåinger. Institutt for samfunnsforskning. ISSN 9788277634753. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Sommeren 2014 ga Stortinget sin tilslutning til regjeringens forslag om å gjennomføre en kommunereform i Norge, med det mål å skape større og mer robuste kommuner. En slik reform stiller store krav til lokalt politisk lederskap – både for å sikre at den sentralt initierte reformen oversettes på en måte som gjør den relevant lokalt og for å fatte en godt forankret beslutning om hvorvidt man skal slå seg sammen og i så fall med hvem. I en nysammenslått kommune kreves lokalt politisk lederskap for å integrere og skape oppslutning om den nye kommunen. Reformen kaller også på tiltak for medvirkning fra befolkningens side. I selve sammenslåingsprosessen skal befolkningen høres, og i en ny og sammenslått kommune med relativt sett lengre avstand mellom folk og folkevalgte, kan det være behov for nye kanaler for politisk deltakelse. I dette prosjektet undersøker vi hva som kreves av politisk lederskap og medvirkning for å få til gode kommunesammenslåingsprosesser og for å sikre et godt lokaldemokrati i nye sammenslåtte kommuner. Funnene fra prosjektet kan gi kommuner som står foran eller er oppe i en kommunesammenslåingsprosess, innspill til hvordan de skal gå frem for å sikre godt lokalt politisk lederskap og god medvirkning i ulike faser av sammenslåingsprosessen.

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