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Decentralization: A handicap in fighting the COVID‐19 pandemic? The response of the regional governments in Spain

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  • Mikel Erkoreka
  • Josu Hernando‐Pérez

Abstract

The COVID‐19 pandemic has provided an ultimate testing ground for evaluating the resilience and effectiveness of federal and decentralized systems. The article analyses how the Spanish asymmetrical system of decentralization has responded to the pandemic, focusing on the management developed by the sub‐central governments (Autonomous Communities) during the first two waves of the pandemic in 2020. The research, which is both quantitative and qualitative, employs multidisciplinary tools and information sources, analyzing and linking fiscal and budgetary sources with the available statistics and information on health. Although the health, economic and social crisis caused by COVID‐19 has highlighted appreciable shortcomings related to the decentralized model of territorial organization – in questions of both regional financing and health management – the research concludes that decentralization has not per se been a handicap when confronting the pandemic in Spain.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikel Erkoreka & Josu Hernando‐Pérez, 2023. "Decentralization: A handicap in fighting the COVID‐19 pandemic? The response of the regional governments in Spain," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 43(2), pages 129-140, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:padxxx:v:43:y:2023:i:2:p:129-140
    DOI: 10.1002/pad.1988
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Balázs Égert & Yvan Guillemette & Murtin Fabrice & David Turner, 2021. "Walking the Tightrope: Avoiding a Lockdown While Containing the Virus," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 22(03), pages 34-40, May.
    2. Mikel Erkoreka, 2021. "The fiscal and budgetary impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the public finances of the Basque Country: the Basque system of fiscal federalism put to the test," EKONOMIAZ. Revista vasca de Economía, Gobierno Vasco / Eusko Jaurlaritza / Basque Government, vol. 100(02), pages 120-149.
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