DECENTRALIZATION FOR SATISFYING BASIC NEEDS IBD

Sinopse

A volume in Research on Hispanic and Latino BusinessSeries Editors Michael William Mulnix and Esther Elena López-MulnixMore than one in every five Latin Americans lives on less than $2 a day, and Latin America isthe most unequal region in the world. The book tackles the problem of poverty and inequality in LatinAmerica through the novel approach of using the decentralization of government functions to satisfy thebasic needs of the poor. Decentralization can bring government closer to the people and strengthen thevoice of the voiceless. Satisfying basic needs for services such as education and health care enhancesproductivity and imparts an indispensable opportunity to earn an income sufficient to emerge frompoverty and to live a full life.Part 1 describes the poverty and inequality of Latin America and the Basic Needs Approach toDevelopment. Part 2 introduces a model of decentralization as a step-by-step process, and it shows thepolicymaker how to implement decentralization in stages through matching its various degrees with real-world circumstances. Part 3 enriches theunderstanding of policymakers by analyzing real-world cases of decentralization in light of the decentralization model.The second edition includes two new chapters that cover the important but often neglected topic of taxation for inclusive development.Chapter 8 analyzes the influential tax advice of the World Bank in terms of its effect on decentralization and the satisfaction of basic needs. AppendixB of Chapter 8 presents an empirical analysis in support of the chapter?s argument that the Bank?s policy is in need of revision. Chapter 9 analyzes theeffects of the World Bank?s tax advice on El Salvador?s tax reform and development process. Two other chapters have been extensively updated:Chapter 6 records and analyzes the rapid evolution of Mexico?s Oportunidades program for health, education and nutrition, and Chapter 10 evaluatesthe progress of the United States? innovative program for foreign aid, The Millennium Challenge Account. Throughout the book, tables and referenceshave been updated.