The local public sector plays a key role in Achieving Development Outcomes. Local government spending is compared to other "local" spending. The research is based on 24 Country Profiles / Surveys so far.
The local public sector plays a key role in Achieving Development Outcomes. Local government spending is compared to other "local" spending. The research is based on 24 Country Profiles / Surveys so far.
The local public sector plays a key role in Achieving Development Outcomes. Local government spending is compared to other "local" spending. The research is based on 24 Country Profiles / Surveys so far.
Ben Edwards (bedwards@urban.org) The Urban Institute
New York September 15, 2014 Development partners have lately focused considerable attention on local governments. Why? Increasing focus on local governance Opening competitive political space Vertical balance of power Enhanced political participation Increased accountability But also, growing recognition that development takes place at the local level ! Development takes place at the local level Public services are delivered by local institutions: Schools, local clinics, agricultural extension centers, water access points, roads, street lights, business licenses, police and fire protection Almost all public services envisioned by the post-2015 agenda will be delivered at the local level # Does government structure matter? Not clear whether organization of public sector matters Few cross-country studies Cross-country studies lack the tools needed to measure the impact of different intergovernmental structures $ The Local Public Sector Research methodology
% Caveats Limited number of observations; cross-country nature of data set; incomplete nature of data Main ambition: to contextualize local government spending vs. other local spending Presentation of results focuses on expenditures, but variables were collected dealing with political, administrative, fiscal mechanisms at local levels Progress on data collection: 24 Country Profiles/Surveys so far &'() * '+,-./0 (,/120 345 6/24.2/ 72.4895 +- 3249.3 4-7 27,:4;+- 2<=2-78.,/25 COLLECTED : Albania (CS) Bangladesh Benin (CS) Bolivia (CS) Brazil Burkina Faso (CS) Burundi (CS) Cambodia Ethiopia (CS) Ghana (CS) Guatemala (CS) Indonesia ONGOING (CS): Botswana Kenya Namibia Vietnam Zambia Senegal Niger Lesotho (CS) Macedonia (CS) Mali (CS) Mauritania (CS) Mozambique Nepal Nigeria Peru (CS) Sierra Leone South Africa Tanzania Uganda (CS)
Country Survey Example: Spending (Peru) >? Observations about the collection of Country Surveys Data availability Challenges of a learning a new approach Sector experts understand finances, but may be unfamiliar with governance constraints Preliminary research results Example: vertical health expenditure profiles Example: vertical education expenditure profiles ># Preliminary results for education sector spending >$ Preliminary results for health sector spending >@ Preliminary regression results (health) >% Preliminary regression results (education) >A Preliminary conclusions Past research has underestimated the size of the local public sector by 60-70% More localized spending appears to be better Health and education have distinct sectoral expenditure patterns Most localized spending in health and education does not flow through local governments Impact of localized spending likely muted by weak local discretion and accountability >B Measure what you treasure: expand global benchmarking Local governments are not the only players at the local level Expand advocacy for engaging the local level: Role of local and international LGAs Sector-specific research on the role of the local level Experience-sharing on how to engage sectors Implications C? Shift the dialogue on localization from the global level to the country-level Strengthen capacity of country-level DLG Community of Practice (researchers, consultants, policymakers) Engage in dialogues with sectors Inform the policy debate with detailed, country-driven LPS Country Studies on the localization of health and education Next steps: Expanding the dialogue THANK YOU!