Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse three innovative Master's programmes designed for public and voluntary sector managers across three EU countries. Design/methodology/approach – The paper compares similarities and differences between the programmes in order to shed light on...

This article analyses three strands of local government modernization. The first takes an overview of the development of 'modernization' and 'improvement' of local government in the UK under the Labour government since 1997 and the overall programme of reform. We discuss both the shifts and the...