| Over the past few decades, a wealth of expectations and motivations have emerged from government decentralization in the Third World, most of which lie outside the mainstream justifications and expected results outlined in the public finance literature, which are more closely associated with decentralization in industrial countries. Political, social and economic development has become intimately entwined with strengthened local governments in the Third World.;Yet, as a whole, decentralization in developing countries has rarely lived up to its varied and often excessive expectations. What has often emerged is the actual increase in central power; the weakening of local government, a significant number of which have ended in bankruptcy and disarray; and the widespread illusion of public representation in government institutions. Empowered local government, however, does have a role to play in developing countries, which must be developed carefully. |
