Norway has chosen a more decentralized model compared with many other countries, but is not the only national government to recognize the advantages of decentralized social services. The US undertook a partial decentralization of assistance to the poor with the introduction of TANF in 1996 (Oates, 1999). One result seems to be that local political ideology and other determinants have become influential (Fellowes and Rowe, 2004; Fording et al., 2007; Soss et al., 2001).2 Will Norway have to make a move in the opposite direction and make the national norm mandatory in order to reduce variation in welfare generosity?
The present study illustrates the challenges central government faces when trying both to allow discretion and to restrain variation. The challenge of controlling complex decisions through simplistic measures is at the core of the principal–agent relationship between different actors in public service provision. This is also a relevant issue in the EU setting, as shown by studies of implementation of EU policy in the member states