Local Government Studies

Aims & Scope

Local Government Studies is the leading journal for the study of local politics, policy, public administration and management and governance.

First established in 1975, it is an influential forum for critical dialogue and exchange on local government and a vital resource for academics, politicians, policy makers and practitioners internationally.

The editors welcome submissions in this field, particularly work of a comparative, methodologically innovative and theoretically challenging nature.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1.9
2024	2.10

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	7136

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	554

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.769

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	58

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• Examining Citizen Participation: Local Participatory Policy Making and Democracy

  Citation: 328

  Authors: Ank, Laurens

• Local Governance under the Coalition Government: Austerity, Localism and the ‘Big Society’

  Citation: 290

  Authors: Vivien, Lawrence

• Why do local governments privatise public services? A survey of empirical studies

  Citation: 237

  Authors: Germà, Xavier

• The Determinants of Local Government's Financial Transparency

  Citation: 191

  Authors: Maria-Dolores, Francisco, Bernardino

• Beyond the market versus planning dichotomy: Understanding privatisation and its reverse in US cities

  Citation: 159

  Authors: Amir, Mildred

• The efficiency and effectiveness of municipally owned corporations: a systematic review

  Citation: 152

  Authors: Bart, Marieke L., Sandra

• Local governance under the Conservatives: super-austerity, devolution and the ‘smarter state’

  Citation: 137

  Authors: Vivien, Alison

• Local Government Reforms in Great Britain, Sweden, Germany and France: Between Multi-Function and Single-Purpose Organisations

  Citation: 136

  Authors: Hellmut

• Social Media and Local Government: Citizenship, Consumption and Democracy

  Citation: 119

  Authors: Nick, Michael

• Like a Horse and Carriage or a Fish on a Bicycle: How Well do Local Partnerships and Public Participation go Together?

  Citation: 119

  Authors: Vivien, Helen

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