Description

Intergovernmental equalization grants have been described as “the glue that holds a nation together.” Getting the grants system right is critical to countries as they decentralize. This paper illustrates general principles with an example based on Indonesia in 2000. A general grant should be used to supplement own revenues and to finance local service provision where there are no central mandates. The special needs of backward regions would be better provided for by specific grants. Specific grants need to be taken into account in the general grants scheme.

Taxonomy

Economic policy , Fiscal policy

More publications in this series: Working Papers

More publications by: Bob Searle ; Jun Ma ; Stefano Piperno ; Ehtisham Ahmad