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Fiscal Decentralization and Local Governance

Course Summary
Fiscal Decentralization and Local Governance provides a detailed overview of the theoretical and applied dimensions of intergovernmental fiscal relations, with a focus on developing and transitional countries.

Fiscal decentralization and local governance play an increasingly important role in assuring sound public policy and democratic governance. Fiscal decentralization reform are being pursued in countries around the world in order to enhance the efficiency with which government services are provided. By yielding greater fiscal responsibilities to regional and local governments, the public sector can be more flexible in response to variations in regional and local needs and demands for public services. In addition, by giving local governments real responsibility for the delivery of local government services and raising own source revenues, local communities are able to hold their local governments accountable for the services that they deliver. As a result, decentralization of the public sector also increases citizen participation in the governance process.

In addition to exploring the conceptual underpinnings of fiscal decentralization reform, the course also includes an intensive computer modeling component with particular emphasis on techniques for simulating the assignment of expenditure responsibilities, revenue sources and intergovernmental transfer schemes. The course further develops case studies of fiscal decentralization policies in a variety of developing and transition economies. A number of lectures further focus on related fiscal policy issues, such as sharing responsibilities for education between different levels of government, revenue opportunities for sub-national governments, and stimulating regional economic growth through tax incentives and subsidies.

Participants need no previous experience in economics, although the program is designed to be most useful for central, regional and local government officials, policy makers and program managers from developing and transitional countries. Participants do no need any previous experience with computers. This course is taught in English.

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Fiscal Policy Summer Training Courses 2003

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