Administrative Decentralization
Title | Administrative Decentralization PDF eBook |
Author | John M. Cohen |
Publisher | |
Pages | 50 |
Release | 1997 |
Genre | Administrative and political divisions |
ISBN |
The Political Economy of Democratic Decentralization
Title | The Political Economy of Democratic Decentralization PDF eBook |
Author | James Manor |
Publisher | World Bank Publications |
Pages | 152 |
Release | 1999 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN |
Nearly all countries worldwide are now experimenting with decentralization. Their motivation are diverse. Many countries are decentralizing because they believe this can help stimulate economic growth or reduce rural poverty, goals central government interventions have failed to achieve. Some countries see it as a way to strengthen civil society and deepen democracy. Some perceive it as a way to off-load expensive responsibilities onto lower level governments. Thus, decentralization is seen as a solution to many different kinds of problems. This report examines the origins and implications decentralization from a political economy perspective, with a focus on its promise and limitations. It explores why countries have often chosen not to decentralize, even when evidence suggests that doing so would be in the interests of the government. It seeks to explain why since the early 1980s many countries have undertaken some form of decentralization. This report also evaluates the evidence to understand where decentralization has considerable promise and where it does not. It identifies conditions needed for decentralization to succeed. It identifies the ways in which decentralization can promote rural development. And it names the goals which decentralization will probably not help achieve.
Decentralization and Service Delivery
Title | Decentralization and Service Delivery PDF eBook |
Author | |
Publisher | World Bank Publications |
Pages | 29 |
Release | 2005 |
Genre | Decentralization in government |
ISBN |
Dissatisfied with centralized approaches to delivering local public services, a large number of countries are decentralizing responsibility for these services to lower-level, locally elected governments. The results have been mixed. The paper provides a framework for evaluating the benefits and costs, in terms of service delivery, of different approaches to decentralization, based on relationships of accountability between different actors in the delivery chain. Moving from a model of central provision to that of decentralization to local governments introduces a new relationship of accountability-between national and local policymakers-while altering existing relationships, such as that between citizens and elected politicians. Only by examining how these relationships change can we understand why decentralization can, and sometimes cannot, lead to better service delivery. In particular, the various instruments of decentralization-fiscal, administrative, regulatory, market, and financial-can affect the incentives facing service providers, even though they relate only to local policymakers. Likewise, and perhaps more significantly, the incentives facing local and national politicians can have a profound effect on the provision of local services. Finally, the process of implementing decentralization can be as important as the design of the system in influencing service delivery outcomes.
Advances in Government Enterprise Architecture
Title | Advances in Government Enterprise Architecture PDF eBook |
Author | Pallab Saha |
Publisher | IGI Global Snippet |
Pages | 514 |
Release | 2009 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN |
This resource is a compilation of chapters on government Enterprise architecture with the intention of informing professionals with different levels of enterprise architecture knowledge.
The Architecture of Government
Title | The Architecture of Government PDF eBook |
Author | Daniel Treisman |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 295 |
Release | 2007-07-02 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 1139466496 |
Since the days of Montesquieu and Jefferson, political decentralization has been seen as a force for better government and economic performance. It is thought to bring government 'closer to the people', nurture civic virtue, protect liberty, exploit local information, stimulate policy innovation, and alleviate ethnic tensions. Inspired by such arguments, and generously funded by the major development agencies, countries across the globe have been racing to devolve power to local governments. This book re-examines the arguments that underlie the modern faith in decentralization. Using logical analysis and formal modeling, and appealing to numerous examples, it shows that most are based on vague intuitions or partial views that do not withstand scrutiny. A review of empirical studies of decentralization finds these as inconclusive and mutually contradictory as the theories they set out to test.
Dangers of Decentralization
Title | Dangers of Decentralization PDF eBook |
Author | Remy Prud'homme |
Publisher | World Bank Publications |
Pages | 43 |
Release | 1994 |
Genre | Central-local government relations |
ISBN |
Demand for decentralization is strong in most parts of the world. This close look at the negative side effects of improperly appled decentralization is not an attack on decentralization but an effort to prevent its misapplication -- and to promote fuller understanding and wiser use of this potentially desirable policy.
Democratic Decentralization of Natural Resources
Title | Democratic Decentralization of Natural Resources PDF eBook |
Author | Jesse Craig Ribot |
Publisher | |
Pages | 40 |
Release | 2002 |
Genre | Business & Economics |
ISBN |
This brief presents preliminary findings and recommendations from research on natural resources in decentralization efforts around the world. The findings derive from WRI's Accountability, Decentralization and Environment Comparative Research Project in Africa.