The OECD Value for Money project was launched in 2008 at the request of the Dutch government. The OECD Secretariat was asked to conduct a comparative study on the organisation of central government from the perspective of Value for Money. The Dutch Government was interested in both quantitative and qualitative international data. In order to conduct the study, the OECD invited a number of countries to provide information to the project. The selection of countries took place in consultation with the Dutch Government. The countries that accepted to participate were: Austria, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, some of those countries were interested in a specific country review next to a comparative international study and offered to contribute to the financing of the project (Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden).