IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envirc/v3y1985i2p175-185.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Centralisation and Decentralisation: A Framework for Comparative Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • E Page

    (Department of Politics, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, England)

  • M J Goldsmith

    (Department of Politics and Contemporary History, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT, Lanes, England)

Abstract

One of the reasons for the paucity of comparative studies of central — local government relations is the absence of a common set of terms and concepts which may form the basis for comparison. Commonly used terms, such as ‘centralisation’ and ‘decentralisation’, are highly ambiguous. In order that comparative study may develop, it is important to isolate the salient dimensions along which patterns of central-local relations vary cross-nationally. On the basis of an exploration of central — local relations in European unitary states, there are three main dimensions for comparison: The functions of local government, the discretion that local authorities have in carrying them out, and the patterns of access between the political and the administrative elites of the centre and locality.

Suggested Citation

  • E Page & M J Goldsmith, 1985. "Centralisation and Decentralisation: A Framework for Comparative Analysis," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 3(2), pages 175-185, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:3:y:1985:i:2:p:175-185
    DOI: 10.1068/c030175
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/c030175
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1068/c030175?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:3:y:1985:i:2:p:175-185. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.