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Implementing decentralized local governance: a treacherous road with potholes, detours, and road closures

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  • Shah, Anwar
  • Thompson, Theresa

Abstract

During the past two decades, a silent revolution in public sector governance has swept across the globe aiming to move decision making for local public services closer to the people. The countries embracing and adapting to this silent revolution have had diverse motives and followed even more diverse approaches. This paper attempts to present a stylized view of the motivations and approaches used to strengthen local governance. The quest forthe right balance, i.e. appropriate division of powers among different levels of government, is not always the primary reason for decentralizing. There is evidence that the decentralization decision may have more to do with short-term political considerations than the long-run benefits of decentralization. To take stock of progress worldwide, we take a comparative look at developments in political, fiscal and administrative decentralization for a selected group of countries. Most of the decentralization literature deals with normative issues regarding the assignment of responsibilities among different levels of government and the design of fiscal transfers. The process of decentralization has not received the attention it deserves as the best laid plans can fail due to implementation difficulties. We revisit major controversies regarding preferred approaches to obtaining a successful outcome. Key approaches examined are big push versus small steps; bottom up vs. top down; and uniform vs. asymmetric decentralization. Finally, Indonesia's 1999 big bang decentralization program is evaluated. The program should be commended for its achievements over a short period of time, however incentives are lacking for local governments to be accountable and responsive to their residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Shah, Anwar & Thompson, Theresa, 2004. "Implementing decentralized local governance: a treacherous road with potholes, detours, and road closures," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3353, The World Bank.
  • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:3353
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rajeev K. Goel & Ummad Mazhar & Michael A. Nelson & Rati Ram, 2016. "Government Decentralization and International Government Performance," CESifo Working Paper Series 6013, CESifo.
    2. Plata, Mar de, 2009. "Reunión Comisión de Descentralización y Autonomía Local Congreso FLACMA [Reunion Committee on Decentralization and Local Autonomy]," MPRA Paper 16563, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Grasa, Rafael & Camps, Arnau, 2009. "Conflict Prevention and Decentralized Governance," MPRA Paper 18877, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Nathaniel Mason & Charles Oyaya & Julia Boulenouar, 2020. "Reforming urban sanitation under decentralization: Cross‐country learning for Kenya and beyond," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 38(1), pages 42-63, January.
    5. Sajjad Ali Khan, 2021. "Decentralization and the Limits to Service Delivery: Evidence From Northern Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440219, February.
    6. Nilanjan Banik, 2009. "Trade and Social Development: The case of Asia," Working Papers 6809, Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNeT), an initiative of UNESCAP and IDRC, Canada..
    7. Smoke, Paul, 2016. "Looking Beyond Conventional Intergovernmental Fiscal Frameworks: Principles, Realities, and Neglected Issues," ADBI Working Papers 606, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    8. Shah, Anwar, 2004. "Fiscal decentralization in developing and transition economies: progress, problems, and the promise," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3282, The World Bank.
    9. World Bank, 2011. "Who Governs Rural Russia?," World Bank Publications - Reports 27449, The World Bank Group.
    10. Roy Bahl & Eunice Heredia-Ortiz & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Mark Rider, 2005. "India: Fiscal Condition of the States, International Experience,and Options for Reform: Volume 1 (2005)," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper05141, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    11. Paul Smoke, 2013. "Why Theory and Practice are Different: The Gap Between Principles and Reality in Subnational Revenue Systems," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1313, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    12. Muhammad Hussain Malik, 2008. "Fiscal decentralization for poverty reduction in Asia: opportunities, challenges and policy issues," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 15(2), pages 13-33, December.
    13. Stéphanie Boulenger & Isabelle Gauthier & François Vaillancourt, 2012. "Déconcentration, délégation et dévolution : avantages, inconvénients et mise en place," CIRANO Working Papers 2012s-22, CIRANO.
    14. Green, Keith, 2005. "Decentralization and good governance: The case of Indonesia," MPRA Paper 18097, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Roy Bahl & Eunice Heredia-Ortiz & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Mark Rider, 2005. "India: Fiscal Condition of the States, International Experience,and Options for Reform: Volume 2 (2005)," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper05142, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    16. Sajjad Ali Khan, 2013. "Decentralization and Poverty Reduction: A Theoretical Framework for Exploring the Linkages," International Review of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 145-172, August.
    17. Kellen Kiambati, 2020. "Levels of transparency and county service delivery in Kenya," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 9(3), pages 14-25, April.
    18. Iimi, Atsushi, 2005. "Decentralization and economic growth revisited: an empirical note," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 449-461, May.
    19. Steiner, Susan, 2005. "Decentralisation and Poverty Reduction: A Conceptual Framework for the Economic Impact," GIGA Working Papers 3, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    20. Hope Pius Nudzor, 2014. "An Analytical Review of Education Policy-Making and Implementation Processes Within the Context of “Decentralized System of Administration†in Ghana," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(2), pages 21582440145, April.
    21. Qurat ul Ain & Tahir Yousaf & Yan Jie & Yasmeen Akhtar, 2020. "The Impact of Devolution on Government Size and Provision of Social Services: Evi¬dence from Pakistan," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 234(3), pages 105-135, September.
    22. Mikami, Satoru & Furukawa, Mitsuaki, 2016. "Outsourced Technical Cooperation Reconsidered: Agency Problems in the Support of Decentralized Public Service Delivery in Sierra Leone," Working Papers 119, JICA Research Institute.
    23. Arze del Granado, F. Javier & Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge & McNab, Robert M., 2012. "Decentralized Governance and Preferences for Public Goods," MPRA Paper 42459, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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