Decentralization in Developing Countries
Global Perspectives on the Obstacles to Fiscal Devolution
Published on 31. January 2011
Book
Hardback
608 pages
978-1-84980-508-7 (ISBN)
Description
This insightful study examines the decentralization experiences from 15 countries in different regions of the world. All of these countries have actively attempted to decentralize, or continue to do so, and have faced obstacles serious enough to either derail or significantly delay their decentralization objectives. Decentralization in Developing Countries evaluates the main obstacles to the decentralization process. The contributors expertly discuss the flaws in the decentralization design, resistance from those holding traditional or central power and, uniquely, weak central governments. They then extract lessons for policymakers, regarding what may be done and what should ideally be avoided.
This important book focuses on how to implement decentralization plans as whole complete processes, rather than examining individual aspects of decentralization. It will therefore prove invaluable for academics and researchers of development economics, public finance and in particular decentralization. Employees of various bodies, including DFID, UNDP, the World Bank, as well as other development banks and bilateral aid organizations, will also find it an informative resource.
This important book focuses on how to implement decentralization plans as whole complete processes, rather than examining individual aspects of decentralization. It will therefore prove invaluable for academics and researchers of development economics, public finance and in particular decentralization. Employees of various bodies, including DFID, UNDP, the World Bank, as well as other development banks and bilateral aid organizations, will also find it an informative resource.
Reviews / Votes
'Some think that decentralization has not gone "far enough" to be considered successful; others argue that it has already "failed". As the studies of decentralization in 15 developing countries in this volume clearly show, every case is different, and persuasive generalizations are hard to find. Fortunately, the introductory chapter usefully pulls this diverse reality together to highlight some key obstacles to successful decentralization and to suggest some approaches that might - provided that those in power are sufficiently supportive - lead to better outcomes in the future.' -- = Richard M. Bird, University of Toronto, CanadaMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84980-508-7 (9781849805087)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Edited by Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, Emeritus Emeritus Regents Professor of Economics and founding Director, Public Finance Research Cluster and International Center for Public Policy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, US and Francois Vaillancourt, Professor, Economics Department, Universite de Montreal, Canada
Content
Contents:
1. An Overview of the Main Obstacles to Decentralization
Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Francois Vaillancourt
2. Conceptual Problems in the Assignment of Functions in SEE: The Case of Albania
Bernard Dafflon
3. Decentralization in the Post-Conflict African Environment: Sierra Leone and Southern Sudan
Bob Searle
4. Challenge to Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations in Pakistan: The Revenue Assignment Dimension
Roy Bahl, Musharraf Cyan and Sally Wallace
5. Constraints to Effective Fiscal Decentralization in Peru
Ehtisham Ahmad and Mercedes Garcia-Escribano
6. Reining in Provincial Fiscal 'Owners': Decentralization in Lao PDR
Juan Luis Gomez, Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Cristian Sepulveda
7. Decentralization in Bangladesh: Change has been Elusive
William F. Fox and Balakrishna Menon
8. The Political-Economy of Decentralization in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Kai Kaiser, Jean Mabi Mulumba and Tony Verheijen
9. Decentralization in Burkina Faso: The Slow March Towards Devolution
Eric Champagne and Ben Mamadou Ouegraogo
10. Decentralization in Cambodia: Consolidating Central Power or Building Accountability from Below?
Paul Smoke and Joanne Morrison
11. Decentralization in Madagascar: A String of Unfinished Races
Francois Vaillancourt
12. Decentralizing Egypt: Not Just Another Economic Reform
Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Andrey Timofeev
13. Obstacles to Decentralization in Ethiopia: Political Controls versus Discretion and Accountability
Serdar Yilmaz and Varsha Venugopal
14. Tanzania's Fiscal Arrangements: Obstacles to Fiscal Decentralization or Structures of Union-Preserving Federalism?
Luc Noiset and Mark Rider
15. The Difficult Road to Local Autonomy in Yemen: Decentralization Reforms between Political Rationale and Bureaucratic Resistances in a Multi-party Democracy of the Arabian Peninsula
Leonardo G. Romeo and Mohamed El Mensi
16. Sharing Petroleum Resources in Iraq: Obstacle or Foundation to Decentralization
Grant Bishop and Anwar Shah
Index
1. An Overview of the Main Obstacles to Decentralization
Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Francois Vaillancourt
2. Conceptual Problems in the Assignment of Functions in SEE: The Case of Albania
Bernard Dafflon
3. Decentralization in the Post-Conflict African Environment: Sierra Leone and Southern Sudan
Bob Searle
4. Challenge to Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations in Pakistan: The Revenue Assignment Dimension
Roy Bahl, Musharraf Cyan and Sally Wallace
5. Constraints to Effective Fiscal Decentralization in Peru
Ehtisham Ahmad and Mercedes Garcia-Escribano
6. Reining in Provincial Fiscal 'Owners': Decentralization in Lao PDR
Juan Luis Gomez, Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Cristian Sepulveda
7. Decentralization in Bangladesh: Change has been Elusive
William F. Fox and Balakrishna Menon
8. The Political-Economy of Decentralization in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Kai Kaiser, Jean Mabi Mulumba and Tony Verheijen
9. Decentralization in Burkina Faso: The Slow March Towards Devolution
Eric Champagne and Ben Mamadou Ouegraogo
10. Decentralization in Cambodia: Consolidating Central Power or Building Accountability from Below?
Paul Smoke and Joanne Morrison
11. Decentralization in Madagascar: A String of Unfinished Races
Francois Vaillancourt
12. Decentralizing Egypt: Not Just Another Economic Reform
Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Andrey Timofeev
13. Obstacles to Decentralization in Ethiopia: Political Controls versus Discretion and Accountability
Serdar Yilmaz and Varsha Venugopal
14. Tanzania's Fiscal Arrangements: Obstacles to Fiscal Decentralization or Structures of Union-Preserving Federalism?
Luc Noiset and Mark Rider
15. The Difficult Road to Local Autonomy in Yemen: Decentralization Reforms between Political Rationale and Bureaucratic Resistances in a Multi-party Democracy of the Arabian Peninsula
Leonardo G. Romeo and Mohamed El Mensi
16. Sharing Petroleum Resources in Iraq: Obstacle or Foundation to Decentralization
Grant Bishop and Anwar Shah
Index