Decentralization in developing countries : global perspectives on the obstacles to fiscal devolution

Author(s)

• Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge
• Vaillancourt, François

Bibliographic Information

Decentralization in developing countries : global perspectives on the obstacles to fiscal devolution

edited by Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, François Vaillancourt

（Studies in fiscal federalism and state-local finance）

Edward Elgar, c2011

Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

`Some think that decentralization has not gone "far enough" to be considered successful; others argue that it has already "failed". As the studies of decentralization in 15 developing countries in this volume clearly show, every case is different, and persuasive generalizations are hard to find. Fortunately, the introductory chapter usefully pulls this diverse reality together to highlight some key obstacles to successful decentralization and to suggest some approaches that might - provided that those in power are sufficiently supportive - lead to better outcomes in the future.' - Richard M. Bird, University of Toronto, Canada This insightful study examines the decentralization experiences from 15 countries in different regions of the world. All of these countries have actively attempted to decentralize, or continue to do so, and have faced obstacles serious enough to either derail or significantly delay their decentralization objectives. Decentralization in Developing Countries evaluates the main obstacles to the decentralization process. The contributors expertly discuss the flaws in the decentralization design, resistance from those holding traditional or central power and, uniquely, weak central governments. They then extract lessons for policymakers, regarding what may be done and what should ideally be avoided. This important book focuses on how to implement decentralization plans as whole complete processes, rather than examining individual aspects of decentralization. It will therefore prove invaluable for academics and researchers of development economics, public finance and in particular decentralization. Employees of various bodies, including DFID, UNDP, the World Bank, as well as other development banks and bilateral aid organizations, will also find it an informative resource.

Table of Contents

Contents: 1. An Overview of the Main Obstacles to Decentralization Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Francois Vaillancourt 2. Conceptual Problems in the Assignment of Functions in SEE: The Case of Albania Bernard Dafflon 3. Decentralization in the Post-Conflict African Environment: Sierra Leone and Southern Sudan Bob Searle 4. Challenge to Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations in Pakistan: The Revenue Assignment Dimension Roy Bahl, Musharraf Cyan and Sally Wallace 5. Constraints to Effective Fiscal Decentralization in Peru Ehtisham Ahmad and Mercedes Garcia-Escribano 6. Reining in Provincial Fiscal 'Owners': Decentralization in Lao PDR Juan Luis Gomez, Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Cristian Sepulveda 7. Decentralization in Bangladesh: Change has been Elusive William F. Fox and Balakrishna Menon 8. The Political-Economy of Decentralization in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Kai Kaiser, Jean Mabi Mulumba and Tony Verheijen 9. Decentralization in Burkina Faso: The Slow March Towards Devolution Eric Champagne and Ben Mamadou Ouegraogo 10. Decentralization in Cambodia: Consolidating Central Power or Building Accountability from Below? Paul Smoke and Joanne Morrison 11. Decentralization in Madagascar: A String of Unfinished Races Francois Vaillancourt 12. Decentralizing Egypt: Not Just Another Economic Reform Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Andrey Timofeev 13. Obstacles to Decentralization in Ethiopia: Political Controls versus Discretion and Accountability Serdar Yilmaz and Varsha Venugopal 14. Tanzania's Fiscal Arrangements: Obstacles to Fiscal Decentralization or Structures of Union-Preserving Federalism? Luc Noiset and Mark Rider 15. The Difficult Road to Local Autonomy in Yemen: Decentralization Reforms between Political Rationale and Bureaucratic Resistances in a Multi-party Democracy of the Arabian Peninsula Leonardo G. Romeo and Mohamed El Mensi 16. Sharing Petroleum Resources in Iraq: Obstacle or Foundation to Decentralization Grant Bishop and Anwar Shah Index

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BB0487234X
• ISBN:
  • 9781849805087
• Country Code: uk
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Cheltenham, UK
• Pages/Volumes: viii, 599 p.
• Size: 24 cm
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BA29658615