IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/rrpaxx/v18y2013i2p145-172.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Decentralization and Poverty Reduction: A Theoretical Framework for Exploring the Linkages

Author

Listed:
  • Sajjad Ali Khan

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between decentralization and poverty reduction. It seeks to identify the potential links between decentralization (devolution) and three specified dimensions of poverty by working out a conceptual framework. The framework upholds that through regional targeting and economic efficiency, decentralization might lead to improvements in economic growth, which may in turn reduce absolute poverty (1st link). Regional targeting and economic efficiency may at the same time also accrue in improved provision of public services, which may result a decrease in the prevailing extent of relative deprivation (2nd link). In addition, through increased participation and representation, decentralization might empower the impoverished and disadvantaged and give them a voice in the decision-making process, which may ultimately lead to a reduction in deprivation of certain capabilities (e.g., political, economic, and sociocultural capabilities) (3rd link). It is interesting to point out that the various benefits accruing from decentralization not only directly relate to a specific dimension of poverty but are, at the same time, also indirectly correlated to other dimensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sajjad Ali Khan, 2013. "Decentralization and Poverty Reduction: A Theoretical Framework for Exploring the Linkages," International Review of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 145-172, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rrpaxx:v:18:y:2013:i:2:p:145-172
    DOI: 10.1080/12294659.2013.10805256
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/12294659.2013.10805256
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/12294659.2013.10805256?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nadir Habibi & Cindy Huang & Diego Miranda & Victoria Murillo & Gustav Ranis & Mainak Sarkar & Frances Stewart, 2001. "Decentralization in Argentina," Working Papers 825, Economic Growth Center, Yale University.
    2. Fan, Shenggen & Zhang, Linxiu & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2002. "Growth, inequality, and poverty in rural China: the role of public investments," Research reports 125, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge & McNab, Robert M., 2003. "Fiscal Decentralization and Economic Growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(9), pages 1597-1616, September.
    4. Eskeland,Gunnar S. & Filmer,Deon P., 2002. "Autonomy, participation, and learning in Argentine schools - findings and their implications for decentralization," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2766, The World Bank.
    5. Arsenio M. Balisacan & Ernesto M. Pernia, 2001. "Probing Beneath Cross-National Averages: Poverty, Inequality, and Growth in the Philippines," UP School of Economics Discussion Papers 200111, University of the Philippines School of Economics.
    6. Faguet, Jean-Paul, 2001. "Does decentralization increase responsiveness to local needs? - evidence from Bolivia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2516, The World Bank.
    7. Khaleghian, Peyvand, 2003. "Decentralization and public services : the case of immunization," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2989, The World Bank.
    8. Ravallion, Martin, 1998. "Reaching poor areas in a federal system," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1901, The World Bank.
    9. Estache, Antonio & Sinha, Sarbajit, 1995. "Does decentralization increase spending on public infrastructure?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1457, The World Bank.
    10. Anwar Shah & Theresa Thompson & Anwar Shah, 2004. "Implementing Decentralized Local Government: A Treacherous Road with Potholes, Detours and Road Closures," Chapters, in: James Alm & Jorge Martinez-Vazquez & Sri Mulyani Indrawati (ed.), Reforming Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations and the Rebuilding of Indonesia, chapter 14, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    11. Shah, Anwar & Thompson, Theresa, 2004. "Implementing decentralized local governance: a treacherous road with potholes, detours, and road closures," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3353, The World Bank.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alvi, Aramish Altaf & Audi, Marc & Ashiq, Rakhshanda, 2024. "Is indirect Taxes Bad for the Poor? Examining the Determinants of Poverty in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 121536, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Mrutu Lukio Lawrence & Stella Kinemo, 2019. "The Myth of Administrative Decentralization in the Context of Centralized Human Resources Recruitment in Tanzania," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(1), pages 209-218, March.
    3. Sajjad Ali Khan, 2021. "Decentralization and the Limits to Service Delivery: Evidence From Northern Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440219, February.
    4. Yeshtila Wondemeneh Bekele & Darley Jose Kjosavik, 2016. "Decentralised Local Governance and Poverty Reduction in Post-1991 Ethiopia: A Political Economy Study," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(4), pages 1-15.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:ces:ifodic:v:2:y:2004:i:1:p:14567690 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Anwar Shah & Theresa Thompson & Heng-fu Zou, 2004. "Decentralising the public sector: The Impact of Decentralisation on Service Delivery, Corruption, Fiscal Management and Growth in Developing and Emerging Market Economies: A Synthesis of Empirical Evi," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 2(1), pages 10-14, October.
    3. Anwar Shah & Theresa Thompson & Heng-fu Zou, 2004. "Decentralising the public sector: The Impact of Decentralisation on Service Delivery, Corruption, Fiscal Management and Growth in Developing and Emerging Market Economies: A Synthesis of Empirical Evi," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 2(01), pages 10-14, October.
    4. RAUF Abdur & KHAN Amara Akram & ALI Sher & KHAN Ghulam Yahya & AHMAD Dilshad & ANWAR Numera, 2017. "Fiscal Decentralization And Delivery Of Public Services: Evidence From Education Sector In Pakistan," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 12(1), pages 174-184, April.
    5. Grégoire ROTA-GRAZIOSI & Emilie CALDEIRA, 2014. "La décentralisation dans les pays en développement : une revue de la littérature - Decentralization in developing countries: A literature review," Working Papers 201411, CERDI.
    6. Faguet, Jean-Paul & Sánchez, Fabio, 2008. "Decentralization's Effects on Educational Outcomes in Bolivia and Colombia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 1294-1316, July.
    7. Emilie Caldeira & Grégoire Rota-Graziosi, 2015. "La décentralisation dans les pays en développement : une revue de la littérature - Decentralization in developing countries: A literature review," CERDI Working papers halshs-01005204, HAL.
    8. Khaleghian, Peyvand & Gupta, Monica Das, 2005. "Public management and the essential public health functions," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1083-1099, July.
    9. Qurat ul Ain & Tahir Yousaf & Yan Jie & Yasmeen Akhtar, 2020. "The Impact of Devolution on Government Size and Provision of Social Services: Evi¬dence from Pakistan," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 234(3), pages 105-135, September.
    10. Arze del Granado, F. Javier & Martinez-Vazquez, Jorge & McNab, Robert M., 2012. "Decentralized Governance and Preferences for Public Goods," MPRA Paper 42459, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Dolores Jimenez & Peter C Smith, "undated". "Decentralisation of health care and its impact on health outcomes," Discussion Papers 05/10, Department of Economics, University of York.
    12. World Bank, 2011. "Who Governs Rural Russia?," World Bank Publications - Reports 27449, The World Bank Group.
    13. Escobal, Javier, 2005. "The Role of Public Infraestructure in Market Development in Rural Peru," MPRA Paper 727, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Nathaniel Mason & Charles Oyaya & Julia Boulenouar, 2020. "Reforming urban sanitation under decentralization: Cross‐country learning for Kenya and beyond," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 38(1), pages 42-63, January.
    15. Steiner, Susan, 2005. "Decentralisation and Poverty Reduction: A Conceptual Framework for the Economic Impact," GIGA Working Papers 3, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    16. Justina AV Fischer & Antonio Rodriguez-Andr�s, 2008. "Political institutions and suicide: A regional analysis of Switzerland," TWI Research Paper Series 33, Thurgauer Wirtschaftsinstitut, Universität Konstanz.
    17. Andreas Kyriacou & Oriol Roca sagalés, 2009. "Fiscal descentralization and the quality of government: evidence from panel data," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 189(2), pages 131-155, June.
    18. Iimi, Atsushi, 2005. "Decentralization and economic growth revisited: an empirical note," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 449-461, May.
    19. Joachim Von Braun, 2005. "Agricultural economics and distributional effects," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 32(s1), pages 1-20, January.
    20. Montero-Granados, Roberto & de Dios Jiménez, Juan & Martín, José, 2007. "Decentralisation and convergence in health among the provinces of Spain (1980-2001)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(6), pages 1253-1264, March.
    21. Diana Barros & Aurora A. C. Teixeira, 2021. "Unlocking the black box: A comprehensive meta-analysis of the main determinants of within-region income inequality," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 41(1), pages 55-93, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:rrpaxx:v:18:y:2013:i:2:p:145-172. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/RRPA20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.