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Handbook of Multilevel Finance

Handbook of Multilevel Finance

Edited by Ehtisham Ahmad, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany and Asia Research Centre, London School of Economics, UK and Giorgio Brosio, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Turin, Italy
This Handbook explores and explains new developments in the “second generation” theory of public finance, in which benevolent rulers and governments have been replaced by personally motivated politicians and the associated institutions. Following a comprehensive introduction by the editors, the renowned contributors present fresh and original perspectives on the key multi-level issues, along with recent developments in theory and practice, as they relate to taxes, budget systems, the management of liabilities and macroeconomic stability. The book also explores special issues concerning the poor and marginalized, structural change and the environment, natural disasters, and the task of overcoming conflicts whilst keeping countries together.

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Extent: 672 pp
Hardback Price: £180.00 Web: £162.00
Publication Date: 2015
ISBN: 978 0 85793 228 0
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  • Economics and Finance
  • Public Finance
  • Public Sector Economics

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This Handbook explores and explains new developments in the “second generation” theory of public finance, in which benevolent rulers and governments have been replaced by personally motivated politicians and the associated institutions. In other words, the normative approach has largely given way to a political economy approach which emphasizes the importance of institutional arrangements and information flows to ensure there are appropriate incentives and sanctions to generate good governance.

Following a comprehensive introduction by the editors, the renowned contributors present fresh and original perspectives on the key multi-level issues, along with recent developments in theory and practice, as they relate to taxes, budget systems, the management of liabilities and macroeconomic stability. The book also explores special issues concerning the poor and marginalized, structural change and the environment, natural disasters, and the task of overcoming conflicts whilst keeping countries together.

The Handbook is organized along three broad themes which elucidate:

- the different interpretations and approaches to fiscal federalism

- the design of policies and institutions that govern the working of multilevel systems

- the emerging challenges to decentralized systems.

The handbook seeks to provide an unparallelled review of the latest literature on the broad subject of fiscal federalism and the role of policies and institutions in creating sustainable outcomes. It will prove an indispensable guide to researchers, practitioners, and policy makers seeking informed policy options.

Contributors

Contributors: E. Ahmad, F. Ambrosanio, R.W. Bahl, P. Bardhan, R.M. Bird, R. Birner, H. Blöchliger, R. Boadway, M. Bordignon, A.Breton, G. Brosio, R. Congleton, B. Dafflon, S. Dalmazzone, P. Castañeda Dower, T.J. Goodspeed, J.F. Linn, B. Lockwood, J. Martinez-Vazquez, D. Mookherjee, C. Pöschl, F. Revelli, P. Salmon, P.B. Spahn, T. Ter-Minassian, J. von Braun, S. Weber, J.D. Wilson






















Contents

Contents:

List of contributors

1. Introduction
E. Ahmad and G. Brosio

PART I APPROACHES AND INTERPRETATIONS
2. The Political Economy of Decentralization
B. Lockwood

3. Toward a Positive Theory of Federalism and Political Decentralization
A. Breton

4. Horizontal Competition In Multilevel Governmental Settings
P. Salmon

5. Geografiscal Federalism
F. Revelli

6. Asymmetric Federalism Constitutional and Fiscal Exchange and the Political Economy of Decentralization
R. Congleton

7. Contract Federalism
B.Spahn

PART II POLICIES, INSTRUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS
8. The Assignment of Functions to Decentralized Government: From Theory to Practice
B. Dafflon

9. Governance and Institutions. The Role of Multi-Level Fiscal Institutions in Generating Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
E. Ahmad

10. Normative Versus Positive Theories of Revenue Assignments in Federations
F. Ambrosanio and M. Bordignon

11 Tax Competition in a Federal Setting
J.D. Wilson

12. Below the Salt: Decentralizing Value Added Taxes
R.M. Bird

13. Delivering and Financing Public Services in Metropolitan Areas
R.W. Bahl and J.F. Linn

14. Tax Assignments at the Regional and Local Levels
J. Martinez Vazquez

15. Local Taxation and Benefits in Developing Countries—overcoming political resistance?
E. Ahmad, G. Brosio and C. Pöschl

16 Intergovernmental Transfers: Rationale and Policy
R. Boadway

17 Promoting Responsible and Sustainable Fiscal Decentralization
T. Ter-Minassian

PART III EMERGING CHALLENGES
18. Decentralization and Development: Dilemmas, Trade-Offs and Safeguards
P. Bardhan and D. Mookherjee

19. Decentralization and Poverty Reduction
R. Birner and J. Von Braun

20. The Sharing of Natural Resource Revenues between Levels of Government
G Brosio

21. Decentralization In Environment and Climate Change Policies
S. Dalmazzone

22. Federalism and Natural Disasters
T.J. Goodspeed

23 Fiscal Federalism and Conflict Prevention
P.C. Dower and S. Weber

24. The Challenge of Measuring Fiscal Decentralization
H. Blöchliger

Index