Decentralization in Ecuador

In Decentralization in Ecuador: Actors, Institutions and Incentives, the author offers a new, provocative interpretation to understand “why” and “how” power as well as resources are shifted to local levels of government. He argues that actors and their incentives are the driving force for change: legislators and labor unions, indigenous people and presidents, finance ministers and regional governors, are the real protagonists of the game of decentralization. The author shows why Ecuador"s different interest groups achieved breakthroughs to redistribute resources at particular moments in time, but failed so remarkably in others, falling into the path to “successful failure.” As becomes apparent time and again, ironically it is often the winners of partial decentralization that provide the greatest obstacle to complete reform and achieve more beneficial outcomes. Drawing from first-hand experience as advisor to Ecuadorian policymakers, the book presents conclusions about political strategies that have important implications for all countries pursing decentralization. This book should appeal to economists, political scientists, decision-makers and all those interested in developing countries, particularly in Latin American politics or economics.