The Working Group on Local Governance deals with all sub-national levels of governance from several points of view: regulation, structure, organisation, functioning, finance, representation, election, and public policies etc. The WG especially welcomes empirical research results, comparative analysis, but also welcomes theoretical contributions.

Central theme for 2018: Shift between centralisation and decentralisation

In many countries, local governments have been given more functions within the framework of decentralisation. Nowadays, the consequences have become visible in sometimes an improved, but also a deteriorated service delivery. In addition, recently, the opposite trend, namely towards re-centralisation is seen. This takes place, if not in taking back the responsibility of policies from local governments by national governments, then by setting stricter regulations and boundary conditions on the workings of local governments in decentralised areas. Local governments react differently. Sometimes one sees amalgamations, and at other times, inter-municipal cooperation and/or mergers of local administrations. All these trends have their merits and drawbacks.

Furthermore, these developments beg the question as to what municipalities can learn from developments taking place in this regard in other countries. The developments have an impact on urban-rural networks, as well as on the classic issue of decentralisation and centralisation.

Paper: Lasting Independence or creeping Re-centralization? The Case of Polish Local Government
Author/Presenter:
Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Paper: Decentralization in Kazakhstan and Poland: A comparative Study
Author(s):
Bakhytzhan Kurmanov, University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Ilyas Yesdauletov, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Presenter(s):
Bakhytzhan Kurmanov, University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Paper: Regarding Designs for Fiscal Rule and Fiscal Decentralization in Romania
Author(s):
Mihaela Onofrei, University "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Iasi, Iasi, Romania
Tudorel Toader, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi, Romania, IASI, Romania
Elena Cigu, University "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Iasi, Iasi, Romania
Presenter(s):
Mihaela Onofrei, University "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Iasi, Iasi, Romania

Paper: Local Government Reforms in Poland and Hungary from a Comparative Perspective. Convergent and Divergent Developmets
Author/Presenter:
Lucyna Rajca, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland