Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/36484
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
Dresden Discussion Paper Series in Economics No. 08/09
Publisher: 
Technische Universität Dresden, Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Dresden
Abstract: 
The advantages and disadvantages of public sector decentralization are widely discussed in economics and political science. Some authors argue that decentralization leads to an optimal provision of public services and promotes economic growth, while others emphasize the dangers of competition between sub-national governments, especially those associated with interregional redistribution. Using cross-section and panel data for 23 OECD countries from 1982 to 2000, this paper empirically studies the impact of fiscal decentralization on regional disparities. We find that a higher degree of decentralization is associated with lower regional disparities. Hence, poor regions experience no disadvantages from decentralization and instead appear to benefit.
Subjects: 
Decentralization
Regional Disparity
Inequality
Fiscal Federalism
Panel Data Evidence
JEL: 
H72
H77
R11
R50
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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