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Decentralization and local public services in Ghana: Do geography and ethnic diversity matter?

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  • Akramov, Kamiljon T.
  • Asante, Felix Ankomah

Abstract

"This paper explores disparities in local public service provision between decentralized districts in Ghana using district- and household-level data. The empirical results show that districts' geographic locations play a major role in shaping disparities in access to local public services in Ghana. Most importantly, the findings suggest that ethnic diversity has significant negative impact in determining access to local public services, including drinking water. This negative impact is significantly higher in rural areas. However, the negative impact of ethnic diversity in access to local public services (drinking water) decreases as average literacy level increases. The paper relates the results to literature and discusses policy implications of main findings." from authors' abstract

Suggested Citation

  • Akramov, Kamiljon T. & Asante, Felix Ankomah, 2009. "Decentralization and local public services in Ghana: Do geography and ethnic diversity matter?," IFPRI discussion papers 872, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:872
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    Cited by:

    1. Sun, Yan & Asante, Felix & Birner, Regina, 2010. "Opportunities and challenges of community-based rural drinking water supplies: An analysis of water and sanitation committees in Ghana," IFPRI discussion papers 1026, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. repec:dau:papers:123456789/12069 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Pierre Andre & Sandrine Mesplé-Somps, 2010. "Politics and the geographic allocation of public funds in a semi-democracy. The case of Ghana, 1996 - 2004," Working Papers halshs-00962698, HAL.
    4. Bao, Te & Liang, Bin & Pei, Jiaoying, 2022. "Does ethnic diversity always undermine pro-social behavior? Evidence from a laboratory experiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. repec:dau:papers:123456789/5746 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. André, Pierre & Mesplé-Somps, Sandrine, 2011. "The Allocation of Public Goods and National Elections in Ghana," MPRA Paper 29873, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Shashidhara Kolavalli & Elizabeth Robinson & Guyslain Ngeleza & Felix Asante, 2012. "Economic Transformation in Ghana: Where Will the Path Lead?," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 14(2), pages 41-78.
    8. Belden, Cory, 2010. "Examining relationships between customary and state institutions in Ghana's decentralized system:," IFPRI discussion papers 1030, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Birner, Regina & Anderson, Jock R., 2015. "Strengthening Agricultural Governance in an Interconnected World," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211345, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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    Keywords

    Decentralization; Access to public services; Ethnic diversity; Geography; Development strategies;
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