Local Government and Fiscal Transfers: Enhancing or Weakening Democracy?

This open access book analyses whether and to what extent fiscal transfers from central to local governments affect democracy at sub-national level. Fiscal transfers are often perceived to undermine democracy, as politicians utilise them to build patronage networks, weaken opposition candidates, and reward local governments that support them. On the other hand, others have argued that fiscal transfers serve to improve local governance, increase transparency, reduce corruption, and promote d...