Blessings of Local Autonomy? Does It Matter? For What? How?
01 Jan 2019-pp 317-332
TL;DR: In this article, local autonomy is treated as an independent variable and there is a causal link between the degree of autonomy and the performance of the different countries in terms of the quality of democracy, economic growth, corruption and happiness.
Abstract: In this chapter local autonomy is treated as an independent variable. We want to know whether there is a causal link between the degree of autonomy and the performance of the different countries in terms of the quality of democracy, economic growth, corruption and happiness. The chapter starts with some theoretical remarks concerning the expected impact and shows that there are in fact positive relations between local autonomy and input as well as output-related aspects of local government. These links remain positive even when we control for the size of the municipalities and whether they belong to the group of former communist countries. Our conclusion, however, is a bit more cautious. It remains doubtful whether one can simply increase the autonomy of the municipalities to increase the performance of local government. This process is likely to be more complicated.
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682 citations
01 Jul 2007
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a decentralization approach based on checks, balances, and freedom, where data to the rescue is used to solve the problem of ethnic conflict and secession.
Abstract: 1. Introduction 2. The political process 3. Administrative efficiency 4. Competition among governments 5. Fiscal policy and redistribution 6. Fiscal coordination and incentives 7. Citizens and government 8. Checks, balances, and freedom 9. Acquiring and using knowledge 10. Ethnic conflict and secession 11. Data to the rescue? 12. Conclusion: rethinking decentralization.
605 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1970315 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors distinguish between local autonomy and local democracy, and propose a bilateral relationship between them in which changes can be made between the two terms in order to distinguish adequately between them.
Abstract: Most studies of local autonomy and local democracy fail to distinguish adequately between the two terms. As a consequence, there is an assumed bilateral relationship between them in which changes i...
273 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the same arguments are sometimes used to advance either claim and that indifferent countries opposite arguments are used to support the same claim, pointing out that the inherent features of centralization and decentralization are far fromobvious.
Abstract: This paper addresses the arguments in favour ofboth the decentralization andcentralization of publicpolicy making. It points out that the same argumentsare sometimesused to advance either claim and that indifferent countries opposite arguments are used tosupport the same claim. Clearly, the inherent featuresof centralization and decentralization are far fromobvious. A closer look at the attention given to theissue by political parties at the national level infour European countries reveals that decentralizationbecomes an issue in these countries at differentperiods and as a cause of different arguments, whichrather reflect the dominant values in the politicalculture than refer to inherent properties of decentralizationitself. An analysis of opinions of local elites points at therelation between their opinion on decentralizing responsibilitiesin a specific field and the support for existing institutionalarrangements, their own influence in the policy field andthe predisposition towards decentralization tendencies. Thisresults in the conclusion that the support for decentralizationtendencies is more closely related to existing specific institutionalarrangements, and to the degree to which it is expected to influenceone's own position, than to its inherent merits.
225 citations