Decentralization and Infrastructure in the Global Economy: From Gaps to Solutions

The subnational dimension of infrastructure has emerged as one of the greatest challenges in contemporary public finance policy and management. Ensuring the efficient provision of infrastructure represents a challenge for all countries irrespective of their level of centralization or decentralization. This book proposes an innovative approach for the strengthening of decentralized public investment and infrastructure management.

Decentralization and Infrastructure in the Global Economy: From Gaps to Solutions covers the most important aspects of infrastructure investment in a decentralized setting. It discusses infrastructure gaps and the quality of subnational spending; how functional responsibilities, financing and equalization can be designed; sector-specific arrangements in high expenditure areas, such as health, education and roads; key steps of the public investment cycle and management; and analyses the political economy and corruption challenges that typically accompany decentralized infrastructure projects.

This book challenges some of the well-accepted principles of intergovernmental fiscal relations and will be useful to researchers and practitioners of public finance policy and management.

Jonas Frank is Senior Public Sector Management Specialist, Global Unit for Public Sector Governance, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, World Bank, Washington DC, USA

Jorge Martínez-Vázquez is Regents Professor of Economics and Director of the International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University in Atlanta.