Synopses & Reviews
Decentralization in Latin America and the Caribbean has changed the regions local development model. More resources and decision-making powers are being transferred from central governments to the local level. This new political, administrative, and fiscal landscape is creating new challenges and opportunities for subnational governments and for local economic development in the region. The Local Alternative offers a series of experiences, reflections, and lessons on how the new, decentralized institutional framework influences diverse aspects of the economic development processes at the local level. The books chapters—written by a variety of actors ranging from experts in international organizations to policymakers at the national and subnational levels—highlight, among other experiences, local management within a context of greater autonomy, experiments with different subnational transfer and financing systems, and alternatives for stimulating local competitiveness and citizen participation.
Review
"Fiscal and political decentralization has become a hot economic and political topic in recent years. The Local Alternative analyzes both positive and negative aspects related to this phenomenon and does so in an always objective, undogmatic, and policy-relevant way. It is a major work that will have much influence on Latin American policy, and its editors and authors deserve much praise. The book makes a monumental contribution to existing literature, and will surely become an essential reference for scholars and, more importantly, policymakers." —Dr. Vito Tanzi, Former Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
“So far much of the fiscal federalism literature has concentrated on decentralization at the regional level. This book makes an important contribution to the literature by focusing on the requirements for decentralization to effectively improve the provision of urban services at the local level. The interesting case studies illustrate in a compelling and “real-life” fashion the theoretical concepts developed throughout the book. This is a must-read for scholars and officials interested in decentralization issues.” —Teresa Ter-Minassian, Expert on fiscal affairs and decentralization, Former Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
Synopsis
This book offers a step forward in finding out how the new decentralized institutional arrangements affect local economic development. In particular, it analyzes how local governments can use their increasing powers and responsibilities to improve productivity and quality of life in their territories.
Synopsis
Throughout Latin America, central governments are decentralizing resources and decision-making powers to the subnational level. Although in theory decentralization promises better management of local entitieswhich should in turn promote economic developmentin practice this link is not entirely clear and invites exploration. This book offers a step forward in finding out how the new decentralized institutional arrangements affect local economic development. In particular, it analyzes how local governments can use their increasing powers and responsibilities to improve productivity and quality of life in their territories. It considers the channels through which the relationship between decentralization and economic growth has occurred and can occur.
About the Author
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is an international institution created in 1959 to foster economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB is the main source of multilateral financing and expertise for sustainable economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Table of Contents
Introduction * I. Decentralization and Local Economic Development * 1. Exploring Conditions for Local Economic Development In Decentralized Systems of Government-Tim Campbell * 2. The Experience in Latin America -Rafael de la * II. Local Management * 3. The Transformation of a Community to a Major Urban Center: The Mississauga Experience -Hazel McCallion * 4. Washington, D.C.: Restoring the United States Capital -Anthony Williams * 5. Catalonia: Overcoming Budgetary Limits with Public-Private Partnership and Performance Based Budgeting -Salvador Maluquer I Amorôs and Anna Tarrach I Colls * 6. Revitalizing Urban Centers -Mauricio Silva and Roberto Chávez * III. Macroeconomic Impact * 7. Decentralization and Macroeconomic Control
-Ernesto Stein8. Lessons from the Argentinean Case of the 90s -Roberto Lavagna * 9. Fiscal Decentralization and Macroeconomic Performance -Anwar Shah * IV. Subnational Financing * 10. The Political Economy of Decentralization and Good Governance in Latin America -Ehtisham Ahmad and Mercedes García-Escribano * 11. Financing and Public Services in Belo Horizonte
-Julio Ribeiro Pires and Álvaro Pio Júnior * 12. Reforming Mexicos Fiscal Federalism -José Antonio González Anaya * 13. Subnational Entity Credit Risk Ratings -Victor Manuel Herrera, Daniela Brandazza and Fabiola Ortíz * 14. Structural Funds for Regional Development in the European Union -Rosa Cobo Mayoral * V. Competitiveness and Globalization * 15. “Doing Business:” How to Improve Local Competitiveness -Fernanda Almeida * 16. Decentralization, Competitiveness and Globalization: Opportunities and Challenges -Eduardo Wiesner * VI. Local Community Participation * 17. Decentralization in Colombia and the Transformation of Bogotá -Jaime Castro * 18. The Private Sector as a Promoter of Citizen Control in Colombia -María Fernanda Campo * 19. Decentralization and Governance: from Authoritarianism to National Dialogue in Bolivia -Ronald Maclean Abaroa