Publication:
Implementing Decentralized Local Governance: A Treacherous Road with Potholes, Detours, and Road Closures

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dc.contributor.authorThompson, Theresa
dc.contributor.authorShah, Anwar
dc.date.accessioned2013-06-25T18:00:48Z
dc.date.available2013-06-25T18:00:48Z
dc.date.issued2004-06
dc.description.abstractDuring 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 for the 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.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/06/4983931/implementing-decentralized-local-governance-treacherous-road-potholes-detours-road-closures
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-3353
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/14178
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherWorld Bank, Washington, D.C.
dc.relation.ispartofseriesPolicy Research Working Paper;No.3353
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.subjectACCOUNTABILITY
dc.subjectAD HOC GRANTS
dc.subjectASSIGNMENT OF EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectASSIGNMENT OF TAXES
dc.subjectAUTHORITY
dc.subjectAUTONOMY
dc.subjectBORROWING
dc.subjectCAPITAL GRANTS
dc.subjectCAPITAL PROJECTS
dc.subjectCENTRAL GOVERNMENT
dc.subjectCENTRAL GOVERNMENT POLICY
dc.subjectCENTRAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subjectCITIZENS
dc.subjectCIVIL SERVICE
dc.subjectCOMMUNIST
dc.subjectCONSTITUTION
dc.subjectCONSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectCORPORATE INCOME TAX
dc.subjectCREDITWORTHINESS
dc.subjectDECENTRALIZATION
dc.subjectDECENTRALIZATION PROCESS
dc.subjectDECISION MAKING
dc.subjectDECISION-MAKING
dc.subjectDECONCENTRATION
dc.subjectDEFICITS
dc.subjectDEMOCRACY
dc.subjectDEMOCRATIZATION
dc.subjectDEVOLUTION
dc.subjectDISTRICTS
dc.subjectDIVISION OF POWERS
dc.subjectECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subjectELECTED OFFICIALS
dc.subjectEMPLOYMENT
dc.subjectETHNIC GROUPS
dc.subjectEXPENDITURE
dc.subjectEXPENDITURE ASSIGNMENTS
dc.subjectEXPENDITURE RESPONSIBILITIES
dc.subjectFEDERALISM
dc.subjectFINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
dc.subjectFISCAL
dc.subjectFISCAL CAPACITIES
dc.subjectFISCAL CAPACITY
dc.subjectFISCAL CRISES
dc.subjectFISCAL CRISIS
dc.subjectFISCAL DECENTRALIZATION
dc.subjectFISCAL EQUALIZATION
dc.subjectFISCAL FEDERALISM
dc.subjectFISCAL GAP
dc.subjectFISCAL GAPS
dc.subjectFORMULA BASED TRANSFERS
dc.subjectFUEL TAXES
dc.subjectGOVERNMENT FINANCE
dc.subjectGOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
dc.subjectGOVERNMENT REVENUE
dc.subjectGOVERNMENT REVENUES
dc.subjectGOVERNMENT ROLE
dc.subjectGRANT DESIGN
dc.subjectGRANT PROGRAMS
dc.subjectHEALTH EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectHEALTH SPENDING
dc.subjectHOUSING
dc.subjectINTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFERS
dc.subjectINTERMEDIATE LEVEL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subjectLEGISLATORS
dc.subjectLEGISLATURE
dc.subjectLEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
dc.subjectLEVIES
dc.subjectLOBBYING
dc.subjectLOCAL AUTHORITIES
dc.subjectLOCAL COUNCILS
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTONOMY
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE
dc.subjectLOCAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subjectLOCAL REVENUE
dc.subjectMACROECONOMIC STABILITY
dc.subjectMATCHING GRANTS
dc.subjectMOTIVATIONS
dc.subjectMUNICIPAL SERVICES
dc.subjectMUNICIPALITIES
dc.subjectMUNICIPALITY
dc.subjectNATIONAL EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subjectNATIONAL LEVEL
dc.subjectNATIONS
dc.subjectNUISANCE TAXES
dc.subjectOPERATING EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectPOLITICAL CRISIS
dc.subjectPOLITICAL DECENTRALIZATION
dc.subjectPOLITICAL FEASIBILITY
dc.subjectPOLITICIANS
dc.subjectPRIVATE SECTOR
dc.subjectPRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION
dc.subjectPROPERTY TAXES
dc.subjectPROPERTY TRANSFER TAXES
dc.subjectPROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subjectPROVISIONS
dc.subjectPUBLIC EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectPUBLIC GOVERNANCE
dc.subjectPUBLIC HEALTH
dc.subjectPUBLIC SECTOR
dc.subjectPUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectPUBLIC SERVICE
dc.subjectPUBLIC SERVICES
dc.subjectREGULATORY AUTHORITY
dc.subjectREPRESENTATIVES
dc.subjectREVENUE COLLECTION
dc.subjectREVENUE EQUALIZATION
dc.subjectREVENUE SHARING
dc.subjectREVOLUTION
dc.subjectROADS
dc.subjectRURAL PROPERTY
dc.subjectSALES TAXES
dc.subjectSOCIAL SERVICES
dc.subjectSTATE ENTERPRISES
dc.subjectSUBSIDIARITY PRINCIPLE
dc.subjectTAX
dc.subjectTAX AUTHORITY
dc.subjectTAX COLLECTION
dc.subjectTAX RATES
dc.subjectTAX SHARING
dc.subjectTELECOMMUNICATIONS
dc.subjectTOTAL EXPENDITURES
dc.subjectTRANSITION ECONOMIES
dc.subjectUNFUNDED MANDATES
dc.subjectURBAN TRANSPORTATION
dc.subjectUSER CHARGES GOVERNANCE
dc.subjectDECENTRALIZATION
dc.subjectPUBLIC SECTOR
dc.subjectDECISION MAKING
dc.subjectDECENTRALIZATION IN GOVERNMENT
dc.subjectDECENTRALIZATION IN MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectREVENUE
dc.subjectAUTONOMY
dc.subjectFISCAL TRANSFERS
dc.subjectBORROWING
dc.subjectACCOUNTABILITY
dc.subjectINCENTIVES
dc.subjectPUBLIC SERVICES
dc.subjectGLOBALIZATION
dc.titleImplementing Decentralized Local Governance: A Treacherous Road with Potholes, Detours, and Road Closuresen
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.crossref.titleImplementing Decentralized Local Governance: A Treacherous Road with Potholes, Detours, and Road Closures
okr.date.doiregistration2025-04-10T09:54:57.294872Z
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Policy Research Working Paper
okr.doctypePublications & Research
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2004/06/4983931/implementing-decentralized-local-governance-treacherous-road-potholes-detours-road-closures
okr.globalpracticeSocial, Urban, Rural and Resilience
okr.globalpracticeGovernance
okr.globalpracticeFinance and Markets
okr.globalpracticeGovernance
okr.guid349441468761683659
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/1813-9450-3353
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum000090341_20040729134144
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum4983931
okr.identifier.reportWPS3353
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2004/07/29/000090341_20040729134144/Rendered/PDF/wps3353.pdfen
okr.topicBanks and Banking Reform
okr.topicPublic Sector Development::Decentralization
okr.topicPublic and Municipal Finance
okr.topicGovernance::National Governance
okr.topicPublic Sector Economics and Finance
okr.topicUrban Development::Municipal Financial Management
okr.topicFinance and Financial Sector Development
okr.unitOff of Sr VP Dev Econ/Chief Econ (DECVP)
okr.volume1 of 1
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationb34d7c24-e8b3-5886-aa6e-371ab8fa114e
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryb34d7c24-e8b3-5886-aa6e-371ab8fa114e
relation.isSeriesOfPublication26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
relation.isSeriesOfPublication.latestForDiscovery26e071dc-b0bf-409c-b982-df2970295c87
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