Fiscal federalism is a critical area of study as it underpins almost all other facets of subnational governance. The overriding issue in fiscal federalism is referred to as the assignment problem, that is, the assignment […]
Climate change poses one of the greatest challenges of our time, demanding urgent action and global cooperation. As nations grapple with the complexities of climate governance, the role of federal systems becomes a topic of […]
What is the impact of increasing population movements from the countryside to cities and towns on the provision of local public services? How can urban and rural local governments cope? How do they finance these […]
South Africa’s current intergovernmental architecture was an important element of the country’s successful post-apartheid transition. A broadly unitary state, South Africa nonetheless adopted some of the framework and language of a federal system. The Constitution […]
Decentralization has been increasing in developing countries, oftentimes, with the encouragement of development partners. It is estimated that intergovernmental transfers account for about 60 per cent of total local government revenues in developing countries. Given this trend, the question […]
Failed service delivery at municipal level is not a new phenomenon, even in countries–such as South Africa–that have a relatively well-functioning local governance system. Local elections are an important–but often imperfect mechanism for ensuring effective […]
Improving service delivery is a major concern in global development agendas, but exactly how best to manage public resources to support better and more inclusive public service delivery in developing countries eludes clear guidance. Key […]
In a multi-level government system, the assignment of roles and responsibilities and institutional legacies between the federal and the subnational governments often create imbalances. A common challenges is a primary vertical fiscal imbalance, which is […]
Decentralization has gained prominence in Africa in recent years. In various jurisdictions, its success or failures have however been associated with instances of corruption to varied scales. This paper therefore discusses the extent to which […]
Fiscal decentralization is becoming a pressing issue in a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting demands for a greater local voice in spending decisions and efforts to strengthen social cohesion. Against this backdrop, this […]
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