DECENTRALIZATION – A KEY TO IMPROVING THE DELIVERY OF LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICES. A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE SPECIALIZED LITERATURE

Abstract

This paper presents the concept of decentralization, its benefits, and its potential to improve the delivery of local public services. Through the study of specialized literature, we aim to identify whether the benefits that decentralization brings to local public services are real, and what the disadvantages, or rather the limitations, of implementing decentralization in practice may be.

The purpose of this article, through the use of bibliographic research methods, is to analyze the extent to which decentralization contributes to the improvement of public service delivery at the local level.

Decentralization, increasingly analyzed in academic settings, is a process by which central authorities transfer administrative and financial powers to local levels of government, with the goal of bringing decision-making closer to citizens and improving the quality of public services, an aspect emphasized by numerous studies and adopted reforms.

Decentralization is frequently perceived as a means of improving the functioning of public administration, being associated with the hope that services will be delivered more efficiently and more tailored to the needs of local communities. The conclusion is that although decentralization offers numerous advantages for enhancing the efficiency of local public services, the associated risks must be considered, such as regional inequalities, the limited financial capacity of local administrations, and institutional coordination challenges