East Asia and Pacific Archives – Decentralization Net

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[ February 4, 2026 ] Leadership transition at the Local Public Sector Alliance Local Public Sector Alliance
[ January 31, 2026 ] Devolved health services in Kenya: Access, efficiency, and the unfinished business of devolution Africa
[ January 27, 2026 ] Introducing LPSA’s Monday Minute Community
[ January 26, 2026 ] Can federalism constrain authoritarianism? Decentralization
[ January 19, 2026 ] How intergovernmental fiscal transfers shape local democracy Decentralization

Centralization, Elite Capture, and Service Provision: Evidence From Taiwan

July 27, 2025 LPS Alliance

Champions of decentralization often argue that decentralization reforms have the potential to achieve a more inclusive and efficient public sector. This notion is based on the assumption that local governments—being closer to the people—are more […]

Intergovernmental competition for donations in Japan

June 30, 2025 LPS Alliance

One of the reasons why countries provide local governments with intergovernmental fiscal transfers is to compensate for intergovernmental externalities. For instance, in many countries, people born in rural areas often move to urban areas when […]

Advancing Sustainable Development Goals at Cambodia’s Subnational Levels

August 23, 2024 Limabenla Jamir

In July 2024, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published an important report titled “Snapshot of Sustainable Development Goals at the Subnational Administration Level in Cambodia.” This comprehensive document provides an in-depth analysis of Cambodia’s subnational […]

Will Nepal’s new Federal Civil Service Bill unlock the potential of federalism?

May 3, 2024 Limabenla Jamir

Since the adoption of Nepal’s landmark federal constitution in 2015, a new federal civil service law has been among the most-anticipated legislative actions. Without it, civil servants across Nepal’s three tiers of government have been in […]

The Political Economy of Redistribution in Indonesia

March 24, 2024 Marina Jandrevska

Political patronage involves politicians providing benefits or resources in exchange for political support or loyalty. Favoritism, particularly in intergovernmental fiscal transfers, can lead to unequal access to resources and perpetuate inequalities. To combat this, policymakers […]

Snapshot of Sustainable Development Goals at the Subnational Government Level in Indonesia

January 11, 2024 Limabenla Jamir

Indonesia has been a leading Asian nation in integrating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its planning, implementation, and budgeting systems despite the challenges posed by its intricate and decentralized governance structure. Indonesia […]

The concept of personal income tax piggybacking

November 30, 2023 Marina Jandrevska

Subnational governments frequently struggle with a vertical fiscal gap, which occurs when there is a gap between the functions or expenditure responsibilities and the financial resources available to them. This vertical fiscal gap results in […]

Indonesia’s New Fiscal Decentralization Law: A Critical Assessment

October 15, 2023 Limabenla Jamir

In a recent publication by Blane D. Lewis from The Australian National University, the intricacies of Indonesia’s fiscal decentralization law come under scrutiny. This paper, titled “Indonesia’s New Fiscal Decentralization Law: A Critical Assessment,” offers […]

Morality Policies and the Prospect for Inclusive Citizenship in Decentralized Indonesia

August 20, 2023 Limabenla Jamir

In today’s rapidly changing world, the concept of citizenship has evolved beyond legal frameworks to encompass inclusivity and respect for all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds. Ensuring inclusivity requires an effort on the part of […]

Re-imagining decentralization policy in Timor-Leste

June 1, 2023 LPS Alliance

Decentralization is not new in Timor-Leste. During the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999), selected socio-economic decision-making functions were devolved to local municipal governments. Municipal assemblies known then as Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR, functioned both at provincial […]