Description
Book SynopsisThis Handbook explores and explains new developments in the “second generation” theory of public finance, in which benevolent rulers and governments have been replaced by personally motivated politicians and the associated institutions.
Table of ContentsContents: List of contributors 1. Introduction E. Ahmad and G. Brosio PART I APPROACHES AND INTERPRETATIONS 2. The Political Economy of Decentralization B. Lockwood 3. Toward a Positive Theory of Federalism and Political Decentralization A. Breton 4. Horizontal Competition In Multilevel Governmental Settings P. Salmon 5. Geografiscal Federalism F. Revelli 6. Asymmetric Federalism Constitutional and Fiscal Exchange and the Political Economy of Decentralization R. Congleton 7. Contract Federalism B.Spahn PART II POLICIES, INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS 8. The Assignment of Functions to Decentralized Government: From Theory to Practice B. Dafflon 9. Governance and Institutions. The Role of Multi-Level Fiscal Institutions in Generating Sustainable and Inclusive Growth E. Ahmad 10. Normative Versus Positive Theories of Revenue Assignments in Federations F. Ambrosanio and M. Bordignon 11 Tax Competition in a Federal Setting J.D. Wilson 12. Below the Salt: Decentralizing Value Added Taxes R.M. Bird 13. Delivering and Financing Public Services in Metropolitan Areas R.W. Bahl and J.F. Linn 14. Tax Assignments at the Regional and Local Levels J. Martinez Vazquez 15. Local Taxation and Benefits in Developing Countries—overcoming political resistance? E. Ahmad, G. Brosio and C. Pöschl 16 Intergovernmental Transfers: Rationale and Policy R. Boadway 17 Promoting Responsible and Sustainable Fiscal Decentralization T. Ter-Minassian PART III EMERGING CHALLENGES 18. Decentralization and Development: Dilemmas, Trade-Offs and Safeguards P. Bardhan and D. Mookherjee 19. Decentralization and Poverty Reduction R. Birner and J. Von Braun 20. The Sharing of Natural Resource Revenues between Levels of Government G Brosio 21. Decentralization In Environment and Climate Change Policies S. Dalmazzone 22. Federalism and Natural Disasters T.J. Goodspeed 23 Fiscal Federalism and Conflict Prevention P.C. Dower and S. Weber 24. The Challenge of Measuring Fiscal Decentralization H. Blöchliger Index
