Article in Journal
Territorial Reforms Reduce Sense of Local Identity
Mona Förtsch, Felix Rösel
ifo Institut, Dresden, 2020
ifo Dresden berichtet, 2020, 27, Nr. 1, 03-05
ifo Institut, Dresden, 2020
ifo Dresden berichtet, 2020, 27, Nr. 1, 03-05
In this article, we show that mergers of districts or municipalities can have negative effects on residents’ sense of feeling at home in their local community. One in four citizens loses their identification with the community after territorial reforms. Manageable territorial structures are an important factor for local identity, volunteering, and political participation.