Forty municipalities of varying sizes and types from different parts of Finland are participating in the evaluation research programme. The participating municipalities are:
Halsua, Hamina, Harjavalta, Haukipudas, Hirvensalmi, Hollola, Hämeenlinna, Juuka, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Karkkila, Kemiönsaari, Kirkkonummi, Kitee, Kotka, Kuopio, Kuusamo, Lappeenranta, Lapua, Lempäälä, Lieto, Mustasaari, Mänttä-Vilppula, Oulu, Pello, Pori, Pudasjärvi, Raasepori, Salo, Seinäjoki, Siilinjärvi, Sipoo, Sodankylä, Turku, Uurainen, Vaasa, Varkaus, Vimpeli, Vöyri, Äänekoski.
The following typology is used in the selection and analysis of the municipalities:
Consolidated municipalities
Municipalities pursuing a deepening cooperation
City region municipalities
Other types of municipalities (not planning on establishing a partnership area for primary care or exploring a consolidation with other municipalities).
One of the central ideas of the research programme is to compare the selected municipalities within one group as well as between the different groups. To this end, 10 municipalities were selected for each group.