there are benefits to this model particularly in terms of equity of service provision and local accountability for the quality and efficiency of service delivery however this model also has disadvantages particularly nationally designed rules that may not be suited to sparsely populated areas and a lack of incentives for cooperation between municipalities at a functional scale formerly used as a coordination mechanism it has been replaced with the forum for sustainable regional growth and attractiveness this forum is used to promote coordination between levels of government and type of government actor political and civil service bringing together representatives from ministries and regional bodies