Fiscal Decentralization Reforms

Shifting fiscal responsibilities from national governments to local ones has been a central policy choice across Central and Eastern Europe. This study asks how those changes have shaped the efficiency of local governments in the region. It compares several countries side by side and traces how each one's reform path has played out, looking at the effects on individual national systems.

The analysis combines a comparative approach with econometric techniques and regression models. The author also sets out input and output indicators that can be used to judge how efficiently municipalities deliver their services, so the measurement framework is explained alongside the findings.

The book identifies features the countries have in common and examines how path dependence influences where reforms can go. It then considers what the future may hold for decentralization in the region. The closing chapters turn to practical options, including modern management and administration methods, cooperation between municipalities, co-creative approaches to delivering services, and other measures aimed at improving the efficiency of public service provision.