Is There a Global Link between Regional Disparities and Devolution

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4138723
AutoresAndrés Rodríguez-Pose (0000-0002-8041-0856, London School of Economics and Political Science, autor correspondente), Nicholas Gill (0000-0001-7514-2837, London School of Economics and Political Science, autor correspondente)
Ano2004
Volume36
Fascículo12
Páginas2097-2117
Data de publicação2004-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoEnvironment and Planning A Economy and Space (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0308-518X • E-ISSN: 1472-3409
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1068/a362
OpenAlexW2090317620
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas78
Referências citadas36

In this paper we present an examination of the possible correlation between rising income inequalities at the regional level and widespread devolutionary initiatives worldwide. When the responsibility and resource-based facets of decentralisation are taken together a marked congruency is evident between the two trends. Various spatial economic forces promote the emergence of core and peripheral regions, and devolution, by establishing the autonomy of these regions, allows these forces a greater impact. We argue that this is because decentralisation initiatives carry with them implicit fiscal, political, and administrative costs, which fall more heavily upon those regions with limited adjustment capacities, resulting in differential rates at which regions can capitalise upon the opportunities offered by devolution. The global tendency towards devolution therefore reflects a subtle, but profound, renunciation of the traditional equalisation role of national government in favour of conditions fostering economic and public competition and leading to greater development of initially rich and powerful regions to the detriment of poorer areas

Autonomy · Decentralization · Development economics · Economics · Geography · Market economy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Renunciation · Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Regional Development and Policy