The Local Alternative: Decentralization and Economic Development

Decentralization in Latin America and the Caribbean has changed the regions local development model. More resources and decision-making powers are being transferred from central governments to the local level. This new political, administrative, and fiscal landscape is creating new challenges and opportunities for subnational governments and for local economic development in the region. The Local Alternative offers a series of experiences, reflections, and lessons on how the new, decentralized institutional framework influences diverse aspects of the economic development processes at the local level. The books chapters-written by a variety of actors ranging from experts in international organizations to policymakers at the national and subnational levels-highlight, among other experiences, local management within a context of greater autonomy, experiments with different subnational transfer and financing systems, and alternatives for stimulating local competitiveness and citizen participation.