Does Fiscal Decentralization Improve Health Outcomes? Evidence from a Cross-Country Analysis

Robalino, David A. ; Picazo, Oscar F. ; Voetberg, Albertus

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ACCOUNTABILITY;    ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS;    ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES;    ANTI-CORRUPTION;    AUTONOMY;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-2565
RP-ID  :  WPS2565

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Decentralization of fiscalresponsibilities has emerged as a primary objective on theagendas of national governments, and internationalorganizations alike. Yet there is little empirical evidenceon the potential benefits of this intervention. The authorsfill in some quantitative evidence. Using panel data oninfant mortality rates, GDP per capita, and the share ofpublic expenditures managed by local governments, they findgreater fiscal decentralization is consistently associatedwith lower mortality rates. The results suggest that thebenefits of fiscal decentralization are particularlyimportant for poor countries. They suggest also that thepositive effects of fiscal decentralization on infantmortality, are greater in institutional environments thatpromote political rights. Fiscal decentralization alsoappears to be a mechanism for improving health outcomes inenvironments with a high level of ethno-linguisticfractionalization, however, the benefits from fiscaldecentralization tend to be smaller.