Fiscal Decentralization and the Efficiency of Public Service Delivery

Author/Editor:

Moussé Sow ; Ivohasina F Razafimahefa

Publication Date:

March 17, 2015

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary:

This paper explores the impact of fiscal decentralization on the efficiency of public service delivery. It uses a stochastic frontier method to estimate time-varying efficiency coefficients and analyzes the impact of fiscal decentralization on those efficiency coefficients. The findings indicate that fiscal decentralization can improve the efficiency of public service delivery but only under specific conditions. First, the decentralization process requires adequate political and institutional environments. Second, a sufficient degree of expenditure decentralization seems necessary to obtain favorable outcomes. Third, decentralization of expenditure needs to be accompanied by sufficient decentralization of revenue. Absent those conditions, fiscal decentralization can worsen the efficiency of public service delivery.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2015/059

Subject:

Education Expenditure Fiscal federalism Health Public employment

English

Publication Date:

March 17, 2015

ISBN/ISSN:

9781484351116/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2015059

Pages:

30

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