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Are Decentralised Governments More Effective in Mitigating Disaster Risks?

Author

Listed:
  • IQBAL , KAZI

    (Research Fellow)

  • AHMED, MEHERUN

    (Associate Professor)

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of fiscal and political decentralisation on the death toll by disasters for up to 46 developing and transitional economies from 1974 to 2004. The results show that elected government at the local level does not help mitigate disaster risk. This study underscores the importance of the joint effects of different forms of decentralisation and shows that when political decentralisation is accompanied by fiscal decentralisation, it significantly reduces the number of total deaths due to natural disaster for the lowest tier of the government. Greater fiscal responsibility is argued to make local elected government more responsive to the vulnerable people.

Suggested Citation

  • Iqbal , Kazi & Ahmed, Meherun, 2015. "Are Decentralised Governments More Effective in Mitigating Disaster Risks?," Bangladesh Development Studies, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), vol. 38(3), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:badest:0785
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fiscal Decentralisation; Political Decentralisation; Disaster Management;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General

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