Date of Award
Fall 1-8-2010
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Public Management and Policy
First Advisor
Dr. Jorge L. Martinez-Vazquez
Second Advisor
Dr. Roy W. Bahl
Third Advisor
Dr. Jameson Boex
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Marco Castillo
Fifth Advisor
Dr. Gregory B. Lewis
Abstract
This research builds further on the existing conceptual framework of the relationship between decentralization and service delivery and provides a cross-country empirical examination of the core dimensions of decentralization reform on access to two key services: health care and improved drinking water sources. The regression results provide evidence supporting positive and significant effects of fiscal, administrative, and political decentralization, individually, on the variables used to measure access to health care, and improved water provision; although the size and robustness of such effects varies for each dimension of decentralization in relation to each service examined. The results obtained in this study suggest that there is an additional (or "extra") positive effect coming from the interaction of two decentralization dimensions on access to health care and water services (that is, a mutually-reinforcing effect additional to the individual effect of each dimension of decentralization). The results obtained also support the expectation that developing countries could benefit significantly more from decentralization reforms compared to developed countries. These findings underscore the importance of considering all dimensions of the decentralization process when investigating the effects of this reform on any economic, institutional, or social variable. The policy implications are highly relevant, particularly for developing countries: decentralization implemented only through one dimension may render fewer positive fruits in terms of access to services than a multi-dimensional approach. Moreover, learning more about the most beneficial mutually-reinforcing effects across dimensions of decentralization may also help strategically in how the overall decentralization reform is designed.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/2853001
Recommended Citation
Saavedra, Pablo A., "A Study of the Impact of Decentralization on Access to Service Delivery." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2010.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/2853001