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From Identity to the Economy: Analysing the Evolution of the Decentralisation Discourse

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  • Andrés Rodriguez-Pose
  • Richard Sandall

Abstract

Few global phenomena have been as pervasive over the lifetime of Government and Policy as the drive towards decentralisation. The number of countries transferring authority and resources to subnational tiers of government has multiplied over the last twenty-five years. Yet the motives behind this trend remain relatively unknown. We explore these motives by analysing changes in the decentralisation discourse across a number of countries. We find that, while arguments about democracy and good governance have been at the heart of the reasoning for decentralisation, identity has progressively been relegated in favour of the economy and the promise of an economic dividend as the other main motivating factor. However, this shift from identity to the economy is highly contingent on who is driving the process. Despite noticeable shifts towards economic arguments in the discourse of nationalist and secessionist movements, identity remains strong in bottom-up discourses. In contrast, it has almost disappeared—if it ever existed—when the process of decentralisation is undertaken by the state or is encouraged by international organisations.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrés Rodriguez-Pose & Richard Sandall, 2008. "From Identity to the Economy: Analysing the Evolution of the Decentralisation Discourse," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 26(1), pages 54-72, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:26:y:2008:i:1:p:54-72
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Roberto Ezcurra, 2010. "Does decentralization matter for regional disparities? A cross-country analysis," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 10(5), pages 619-644, September.
    2. Monastiriotis, Vassilis & Zilic, Ivan, 2020. "The economic effects of political disintegration: Lessons from Serbia and Montenegro," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. David Waite & Duncan Maclennan & Tony O’Sullivan, 2013. "Emerging city policies: Devolution, deals and disorder," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 28(7-8), pages 770-785, November.
    4. Dotti, Nicola Francesco, 2018. "Knowledge that matters for the ‘survival of unfittest’: The case of the new Brussels' rail junction," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 131-140.
    5. Liangliang Liu & Donghong Ding & Jun He, 2019. "The welfare effects of fiscal decentralization: a simple model and evidence from China," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 417-434, January.
    6. Natalia Restrepo & Salvador Anton Clavé, 2019. "Institutional Thickness and Regional Tourism Development: Lessons from Antioquia, Colombia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-25, May.
    7. Liangliang Liu, 2021. "Fiscal decentralization and the imbalance between consumption and investment in China," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 66(1), pages 1-17, February.

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