Kai Kaiser

Bert Hofman

Kadjatmiko

Bambang Suharnoko Sjahrir

This paper presents a methodology to evaluate fiscal decentralization focusing on the potential mis-targeting of intergovernmental fiscal equalization transfers. The approach builds on an explicit comparison and the summary measurement of different (horizontal) allocation distributions across states or localities. Whereas formula-based fiscal transfers have the merit of being transparent and promoting revenue predictability in fiscal decentralization, in practice, two challenges emerge: (1) What are the appropriate formula designs given the sub-national data constraints evident in most decentralizing developing countries? and (2) How costly in terms of mis-targeting to the presumed expenditure needs and fiscal capacity are deviations from these types of benchmark formulas (for example, due to historical factors or the need to meet establishment costs such as civil service wages)? The authors illustrate this approach by assessing Indonesia's evolving intergovernmental fiscal system instituted in the 2001 Big Bang decentralization. The discussion comes against Indonesia's recent policy decision to fully fund sub-national civil servant wages as part of the base general allocation grant (DAU) transfers, raising questions about both incentive effects for local governments and potential mis-targeting. The authors identify potential efficiency losses from the DAU's horizontal misallocation from half a dozen alternative scenarios found in the policy dialogue, ranging from 9 to 30 percent-on the order of US$ 3.9 billion-of the overall annual size of this large intergovernmental transfer. The scale of these tradeoffs highlights the importance of intergovernmental transfers in more general debates in public finance for decentralized countries.

Evaluating Fiscal Equalization in Indonesia

Jonas Frank

Tuan Minh Le

Jay-Hyung Kim

Public resources - if invested well in public infrastructure and services - can catalyze private and community efforts and unleash an inclusive growth and development process. But public investment attracts political interest, usually of the kind that undermines efficiency. Too often public projects are poorly designed, under-funded, long-delayed, or badly implemented, with little benefit to the population. This is a critical challenge for many countries, both rich and poor. Paradoxically, some countries are even unable to spend their limited investment budgets while others lack “shovel ready” projects for a fiscal stimulus. The quality of institutions is fundamental. This book identifies eight key institutional features that countries need to adopt to ensure that public investments support growth and development. Very broadly, the eight stages correspond to a disciplined system for guiding, appraising, reviewing and selecting projects that are most likely to stimulate inclusive development, and following through to ensure that they are implemented, adjusted, operated and evaluated to deliver the public services that citizens and the private sector expect. A review of over 30 countries suggests that these eight features are present in all countries that manage resources efficiently but most countries are missing key features. Not surprisingly, those weaknesses contribute to poor investment and development outcomes. Strengthening institutions for public investment management is critical to developmental success. This book provides a clear, non-technical discussion on approaches to improving project appraisal, dealing with uncertainty (an issue that is likely to grow in importance with the effects of climate change), integrating procurement skills into project design and implementation, and of managing the decision on public private partnerships. By providing a simple but comprehensive framework and global experience, the book provides policy makers the guidance to adopt good functional principles in the design of institutions to strengthen public investment management.

Transforming Resources Into Assets for Growth

The Power of Public Investment Management

Patrick Barron

Menno Pradhan

local conflict and unemployment, inequality, natural disasters, changes in sources of incomes, and clustering of ethnic groups within villages. The institutional variables indicate that the presence of places of worship is associated with less conflict, while the presence of religious groups and traditional culture (adat) institutions are associated with conflict. The authors conclude by suggesting future areas of research, notably on the role of group inequality and inference, and suggest ways to improve the measurement of conflict in the village census. This paper-- a product of the Public Sector Governance Division, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network-- is part of a larger effort in the network to evaluate decentralized/local governance and service delivery"-- World Bank web site.

Measuring Incidence and Identifying Patterns

Local Conflict in Indonesia

Kai Kaiser

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