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Decentralization : the way forward for rural development?

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  • Parker, Andrew N.

Abstract

Special strategies are needed to address the widespread incidence of rural poverty in developing countries, but initiatives aimed at improving the rural standard of living have not consistently reduced poverty. The author examines the rationale for a specific rural focus in poverty reduction programs and reviews recent attempts to encourage rural development. He discusses the role decentralization could play in rural development programs and analyzes recent efforts to implement decentralized rural development programs. The author concludes that although decentralization initiatives have a long history, much more needs to be understood about various components of decentralization before sound advice can be given to policymakers. He suggests a conceptual model - based on a"souffle"theory of decentralization - that incorporates the essential elements of political, fiscal, and institutional decentralization as they related to rural development outcomes. Like a souffle that requires just the right combination of milk, eggs, and heat to rise, a successful program of decentralization must include just the right combination of political, fiscal, and institutional elements to improve rural development outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Parker, Andrew N., 1995. "Decentralization : the way forward for rural development?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1475, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:1475
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wafaa Nasser & Myriam Donsimoni, 2012. "Local governance, decentralization and local economic development," Post-Print hal-00973763, HAL.
    2. Robinson D. BoyeBandie, 2015. "The Effects of the District Assemblies Common Fund on District Assemblies Internally Generated Revenue Mobilisation in Ghana: An Analysis of the Early Years of the Fund," International Journal of Asian Social Science, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 5(9), pages 529-542, September.
    3. Achakorn Wongpredee & Tatchalerm Sudhipongpracha, 2014. "The Politics of Intergovernmental Transfers in Northeast Thailand," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 30(3), pages 343-363, September.
    4. Sharma, Chanchal Kumar, 2005. "When Does decentralization deliver? The Dilemma of Design," MPRA Paper 250, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Jun 2005.
    5. Pavlos Karanikolas & Sophia Hatzipanteli, 2008. "The Decentralization Process of Rural Development Policy in Greece," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 411-434, December.
    6. Jean-Paul Faguet, 2005. "GOVERNANCE FROM BELOW A Theory of Local Government With Two Empirical Tests," STICERD - Political Economy and Public Policy Paper Series 12, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE.
    7. Parker, Andrew N. & Kirsten, Johann, 1995. "Decentralization: Toward A Revitalized Strategy For Rural Development," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 34(4), December.
    8. Harry W. Blair, 1996. "Democracy, Equity and Common Property Resource Management in the Indian Subcontinent," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 27(3), pages 475-499, July.
    9. Parker, A.N., 1997. "Participation and decentralisation in rural development: Lessons from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 36(4), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Nadiia Davydenko & Natalia Wasilewska & Svitlana Boiko & Mirosław Wasilewski, 2022. "Development of Rural Areas in Ukraine in the Context of Decentralization: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-26, May.
    11. Manila Khisa, 2020. "Decentralization of Public Services and the Role of Local Government in Rural Development: Findings From Bangladesh," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 249261-2492, December.
    12. Faguet, Jean-Paul, 2003. "Decentralization and local government in Bolivia : an overview from the bottom up," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 481, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Sharma, Chanchal Kumar, 2008. "Emerging Dimensions Of Decentralization Debate In The Age Of Glocalization," MPRA Paper 6734, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Cecilia Ugaz, 1997. "Decentralization and the Provision and Financing of Social Services: Concepts and Issues," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-1997-130, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    15. Benos, Christos & Angelopoulou, Ioanna & Metaxas, Theodore, 2017. "“Decentralization” of income per capita and its relationship to administrative decentralization in the context of European Union members," MPRA Paper 78777, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Piero Conforti & Pasquale De Muro & Luca Salvatici, 2002. "Decentralization and Development in South-Saharan-Africa," QA - Rivista dell'Associazione Rossi-Doria, Associazione Rossi Doria, issue 3, November.
    17. Humplick, Frannie & Moini-Araghi, Azadeh, 1996. "Decentralized structures for providing roads : a cross-country comparison," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1658, The World Bank.
    18. World Bank, 2004. "India : Fiscal Decentralization to Rural Governments," World Bank Publications - Reports 14674, The World Bank Group.

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