However, contracts can be innovative policy tools that can provide flexibility among levels of government to respond to challenges without compromising stability (OECD, 2018[u]). Both France and Italy make use of contracts and the case of Sweden places a bigger emphasis on the promotion of wellbeing in rural areas. In addition, it has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the competences of the representative of the central government at the subnational level -namely the prefect.