Decentralization and Governance

34 Pages Posted: 21 Jul 2011 Last revised: 23 Jul 2011

See all articles by Jean-Paul Faguet

Jean-Paul Faguet

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)

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Date Written: June 20, 2011

Abstract

The most important theoretical argument concerning decentralization is that it can improve governance by making government more accountable and responsive to the governed. Improving governance is also central to the motivations of real-world reformers, who bear risks and costs in the interest of devolution. But the literature has mostly focused instead on policy-relevant outcomes, such as education and health services, public investment, and fiscal deficits. This paper examines how decentralization affects governance, in particular how it might increase political competition, improve public accountability, reduce political instability, and impose incentive-compatible limits on government power, but also threaten fiscal sustainability.

Keywords: decentralization, governance, local government, political competition, accountability, instability

JEL Classification: H41, H62, H63, H7, I12

Suggested Citation

Faguet, Jean-Paul, Decentralization and Governance (June 20, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1892149 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1892149

Jean-Paul Faguet (Contact Author)

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