decentralization

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the transfer of authority, responsibility, and resources from central government to lower levels of government, local authorities, or non-governmental organisations, with the aim of improving responsiveness, efficiency, participation, and accountability in the delivery of public services and the governance of local affairs; decentralisation takes several forms — political or democratic decentralisation transfers decision-making authority to elected subnational bodies; administrative decentralisation transfers management functions while retaining central authority over policy; fiscal decentralisation transfers taxing and spending authority; and deconcentration disperses central government functions geographically without devolving authority; research on the outcomes of decentralisation shows mixed results — while it can improve local responsiveness and political participation, it can also exacerbate regional inequality and create coordination failures when cross-boundary issues require integrated central action

Examples

• The government's decentralisation programme transferred responsibility for primary education to district councils.
• Decentralization in health systems improved service delivery in some regions but widened inequalities between rich and poor districts.

British English uses decentralisation (with s); American English uses decentralization (with z)