The Local Alternative

Introduction PART I: DECENTRALIZATION AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Exploring Conditions for Local Economic Development In Decentralized Systems of Government; T.Campbell The Experience in Latin America; Rafael de la PART II: LOCAL MANAGEMENT The Transformation of a Community to a Major Urban Center: The Mississauga Experience; H.McCallion Washington, D.C.: Restoring the United States Capital; A.Williams Catalonia: Overcoming Budgetary Limits with Public-Private Partnership and Performance Based Budgeting; S.Maluquer I Amorôs & A.Tarrach I Colls Revitalizing Urban Centers; M.Silva & R.Chávez PART III: MACROECONOMIC IMPACT Decentralization and Macroeconomic Control; E.Stein Lessons from the Argentinean Case of the 90's; R.Lavagna Fiscal Decentralization and Macroeconomic Performance; A.Shah PART IV: SUBNATIONAL FINANCING The Political Economy of Decentralization and Good Governance in Latin America; E.Ahmad & M.García-Escribano Financing and Public Services in BeloHorizonte; J.Ribeiro Pires & Á.Pio Júnior Reforming Mexico's Fiscal Federalism; J.Antonio González Anaya Subnational Entity Credit Risk Ratings; V.Manuel Herrera, D.Brandazza & F.Ortíz Structural Funds for Regional Development in the European Union; R.Cobo Mayoral PART V: COMEPTITIVENESS AND GLOBALIZATION "Doing Business:" How to Improve Local Competitiveness; F.Almeida Decentralization, Competitiveness and Globalization: Opportunities and Challenges; E.Wiesner PART VI: LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Decentralization in Colombia and the Transformation of Bogotá; J.Castro The Private Sector as a Promoter of Citizen Control in Colombia; M.Fernanda Campo Decentralization and Governance: from Authoritarianism to National Dialogue in Bolivia; R.Maclean Abaroa

Inter-American Development Bank, Rafael de la Cruz, Carlos Pineda Mannheim and Caroline Pöschl

"Fiscal and political decentralization has become a hot economic and political topic in recent years. The Local Alternative analyzes both positive and negative aspects related to this phenomenon and does so in an always objective, undogmatic, and policy-relevant way. It is a major work that will have much influence on Latin American policy, and its editors and authors deserve much praise. The book makes a monumental contribution to existing literature, and will surely become an essential reference for scholars and, more importantly, policymakers." --Dr. Vito Tanzi, Former Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF

"So far much of the fiscal federalism literature has concentrated on decentralization at the regional level. This book makes an important contribution to the literature by focusing on the requirements for decentralization to effectively improve the provision of urban services at the local level. The interesting case studies illustrate in a compelling and "real-life" fashion the theoretical concepts developed throughout the book. This is a must-read for scholars and officials interested in decentralization issues." --Teresa Ter-Minassian, Expert on fiscal affairs and decentralization, Former Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF