IMF Working Papers

Local Service Provision in Selected OECD Countries: Do Decentralized Operations Work Better?

By Ehtisham Ahmad, Giorgio Brosio, Vito Tanzi

March 1, 2008

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Ehtisham Ahmad, Giorgio Brosio, and Vito Tanzi. Local Service Provision in Selected OECD Countries: Do Decentralized Operations Work Better?, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2008) accessed November 12, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

There is a widespread presumption that decentralization improves public service provision. This has led to policy prescriptions that are assiduously adhered to by countries and international. This paper reviews the recent evidence from OECD countries-which is seen to be inconclusive. This suggests the need for a careful design of programs that take into account the political economy constraints and incentives, as well as more systematic and thorough evaluations of outcomes.

Subject: Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Fiscal federalism, Health care

Keywords: Central government, Decentralization index, Fiscal decentralization, OECD country, Unitary state, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    35

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2008/067

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2008067

  • ISBN:

    9781451869293

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941