Hallintotasot

Hallintotasot is a term used in political science and public administration to describe the different levels at which public authority is organized within a state. The concept focuses on how power, responsibility, and resources are distributed across levels, from the national government down to regional and local authorities, and sometimes to supranational bodies. The principle of subsidiarity often guides the allocation, favoring decision-making at the lowest level capable of handling the task.

Common levels include central or national government; regional or subnational authorities; and local or municipal governments. Some systems further distinguish metropolitan or district levels, or regional bodies with special competencies. In federal states, powers are constitutionally divided between central and constituent units (states or provinces). In unitary states, the central government may delegate powers to subnational units through legislation, administrative arrangements, or funding.

Functions differ by level: central governments typically set national policy frameworks, standards, and macro budgets; regional authorities may handle regional planning, economic development, education, health care, and public transport; local governments usually deliver day-to-day services, local planning, and taxation, interacting with residents directly. Coordination mechanisms, intergovernmental councils, and fiscal equalization schemes help align policies across levels.

In Finland, hallintotasot commonly refer to the three-tier structure of central government, regional and municipal administration, though the exact configuration can vary over time and by reform. The term is widely used in comparative public administration to analyze decentralization, subsidiarity, and administrative efficiency.