Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery?
Decentralization holds a lot of promise, but whether it improves public service delivery depends on the institutional arrangements governing its implementation. Several conditions must be met before the full benefits of decentralization can be reap...
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| Format: | Brief |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2012
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/06/2011701/decentralization-governance-decentralization-improve-public-service-delivery http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11382 |
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okr-10986-113822021-04-23T14:02:55Z Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? Kahkonen, Satu Lanyi, Anthony ACCOUNTABILITY AUDITS AUTHORITY BUREAUCRACY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL CITIES CITIZEN CITIZENS COMMUNITY LEADERS CONSTITUTION CORRUPTION DECENTRALIZATION DEVOLUTION DISTRICTS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HEALTH SPENDING INFORMAL SECTOR INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTIONAL REFORM LAWS LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY LOCAL AUTONOMY LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOCAL LEVELS MACROECONOMICS MIGRATION MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS MUNICIPALITIES NATIONAL ELECTIONS POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLITICAL AUTHORITY PRESIDENCY PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY PUBLIC SERVICES RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS ROADS SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TAX TAX REVENUE TRANSPARENCY VOTING WATER SUPPLY DECENTRALIZATION IN GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY BUREAUCRACY CORRUPTION INFORMATION GAPS Decentralization holds a lot of promise, but whether it improves public service delivery depends on the institutional arrangements governing its implementation. Several conditions must be met before the full benefits of decentralization can be reaped. First, for decentralization to increase allocative and productive efficiency, local governments need to have the authority to respond to local demand as well as adequate mechanisms for accountability. Because granting authority without accountability can lead to corruption and lower productive efficiency, decentralization needs to be accompanied by reforms that increase the transparency and accountability of local government. Second, functions need to be devolved to a low enough level of government for allocative efficiency to increase as a result of decentralization. Low-level governments are likely to be aware of local preferences and, if able to do so, are likely to adjust service delivery accordingly. Third, citizens should have channels to communicate their preferences and get their voices heard in local governments. But the existence of such channels is not enough. To effectively influence public policies and oversee local governments, citizens need to have information about government policies and activities. The media play a crucial role in this area. 2012-08-13T14:54:57Z 2012-08-13T14:54:57Z 2001-06 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/06/2011701/decentralization-governance-decentralization-improve-public-service-delivery http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11382 English PREM Notes; No. 55 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Brief Publications & Research Africa East Asia and Pacific Philippines Uganda |
| repository_type |
Digital Repository |
| institution_category |
Foreign Institution |
| institution |
Digital Repositories |
| building |
World Bank Open Knowledge Repository |
| collection |
World Bank |
| language |
English |
| topic |
ACCOUNTABILITY AUDITS AUTHORITY BUREAUCRACY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL CITIES CITIZEN CITIZENS COMMUNITY LEADERS CONSTITUTION CORRUPTION DECENTRALIZATION DEVOLUTION DISTRICTS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HEALTH SPENDING INFORMAL SECTOR INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTIONAL REFORM LAWS LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY LOCAL AUTONOMY LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOCAL LEVELS MACROECONOMICS MIGRATION MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS MUNICIPALITIES NATIONAL ELECTIONS POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLITICAL AUTHORITY PRESIDENCY PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY PUBLIC SERVICES RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS ROADS SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TAX TAX REVENUE TRANSPARENCY VOTING WATER SUPPLY DECENTRALIZATION IN GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY BUREAUCRACY CORRUPTION INFORMATION GAPS |
| spellingShingle |
ACCOUNTABILITY AUDITS AUTHORITY BUREAUCRACY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL CITIES CITIZEN CITIZENS COMMUNITY LEADERS CONSTITUTION CORRUPTION DECENTRALIZATION DEVOLUTION DISTRICTS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HEALTH SPENDING INFORMAL SECTOR INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTIONAL REFORM LAWS LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY LOCAL AUTONOMY LOCAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOCAL LEVELS MACROECONOMICS MIGRATION MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS MUNICIPALITIES NATIONAL ELECTIONS POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLITICAL AUTHORITY PRESIDENCY PUBLIC GOODS PUBLIC HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PUBLIC SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT PUBLIC SERVICE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY PUBLIC SERVICES RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS ROADS SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS TAX TAX REVENUE TRANSPARENCY VOTING WATER SUPPLY DECENTRALIZATION IN GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY BUREAUCRACY CORRUPTION INFORMATION GAPS Kahkonen, Satu Lanyi, Anthony Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? |
| geographic_facet |
Africa East Asia and Pacific Philippines Uganda |
| relation |
PREM Notes; No. 55 |
| description |
Decentralization holds a lot of promise,
but whether it improves public service delivery depends on
the institutional arrangements governing its implementation.
Several conditions must be met before the full benefits of
decentralization can be reaped. First, for decentralization
to increase allocative and productive efficiency, local
governments need to have the authority to respond to local
demand as well as adequate mechanisms for accountability.
Because granting authority without accountability can lead
to corruption and lower productive efficiency,
decentralization needs to be accompanied by reforms that
increase the transparency and accountability of local
government. Second, functions need to be devolved to a low
enough level of government for allocative efficiency to
increase as a result of decentralization. Low-level
governments are likely to be aware of local preferences and,
if able to do so, are likely to adjust service delivery
accordingly. Third, citizens should have channels to
communicate their preferences and get their voices heard in
local governments. But the existence of such channels is not
enough. To effectively influence public policies and oversee
local governments, citizens need to have information about
government policies and activities. The media play a crucial
role in this area. |
| format |
Publications & Research :: Brief |
| author |
Kahkonen, Satu Lanyi, Anthony |
| author_facet |
Kahkonen, Satu Lanyi, Anthony |
| author_sort |
Kahkonen, Satu |
| title |
Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? |
| title_short |
Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? |
| title_full |
Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? |
| title_fullStr |
Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Decentralization and Governance : Does Decentralization Improve Public Service Delivery? |
| title_sort |
decentralization and governance : does decentralization improve public service delivery? |
| publisher |
World Bank, Washington, DC |
| publishDate |
2012 |
| url |
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/06/2011701/decentralization-governance-decentralization-improve-public-service-delivery http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11382 |
| _version_ |
1764416534220898304 |