Decentralisation and Regional Development

This book analyzes decentralisation, regional development paths and success factors in different governance sectors in Ghana, the Philippines, Tanzania and Chile, and discuss overarching aspects of relevance. Decentralisation, which refers to the delegation of administrative responsibilities, political decision-making and fiscal powers to lower levels of government, is now considered one of the most efficient engines of development. In Sub-Saharan Africa decentralised states have made more progress in reducing poverty than those states with lower decentralisation scores. But in many countries, decentralisation is still considered a 'work in progress' with unsatisfactory results. From a spatial point of view, the link between decentralisation and regional and district development is particularly interesting. Both in the North and in the South, regional or district development is seen as holding the potential for advancing social and economic development, and even more so in decentralised political settings. Space-based networks at the regional or district level are considered instrumental for responding to locally specific challenges, e.g. in areas lagging behind economically.

Zusammenfassung

This book analyzes decentralisation, regionaldevelopment paths and success factors in different governance sectors in Ghana,the Philippines, Tanzania and Chile, and discuss overarching aspects ofrelevance. Decentralisation, which refers to the delegation of administrativeresponsibilities, political decision-making and fiscal powers to lower levelsof government, is now considered one of the most efficient engines ofdevelopment. In Sub-Saharan Africa decentralised states have made more progressin reducing poverty than those states with lower decentralisation scores. Butin many countries, decentralisation is still considered a 'work in progress'with unsatisfactory results. From a spatial point of view, the link betweendecentralisation and regional and district development is particularlyinteresting. Both in the North and in the South, regional or district developmentis seen as holding the potential for advancing social and economic development,and even more so in decentralised political settings. Space-based networks atthe regional or district level are considered instrumental for responding tolocally specific challenges, e.g. in areas lagging behind economically.

Inhalt
Editorial.- Preface.- Theoretical reflections on Ghana's decentralisation: Increasing discretional funding through the District Development Facility.- Decentralisation and local economic development promotion at the district level in Ghana.- Levelling the gradients planning for equivalent standards of living, the German experience.- Decentralisation in the German context: An assessment of governance actors and approaches from below.- Decentralisation and urban governance: Trends and lessons from cities in Tanzania.- Decentralisation of municipal servicing in Tanzania: Opportunities and challenges.- Analysis and lessons from decentralisation and its implications to local environmental planning and management in the Philippines.- Assessing the effectiveness of the decentralisation policy on disaster risk reduction and management: The case of Hagonoy, Bulacan, Philippines.- Smarter money for smarter cities: How regional currencies can help to promote a decentralised and sustainable regional development.