- What works better: elected leaders or appointed bureaucrats?
A long-running debate in decentralization circles asks whether local governments function better under elected leaders or appointed bureaucrats. Advocates of political decentralization emphasize accountability, community voice, and responsiveness, while supporters of technocratic administration highlight expertise, impartiality, and resistance to local capture. A recent study from Karnataka, India—posted on the Ideas for India website—offers unusually rigorous […]
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See all blog posts on decentralization and localization in Asia.
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