Polycentric Polity: Genuine vs. Spurious Federalism
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Giuseppe Eusepi
Abstract
Federalism is commonly described in contradictory fashion as involving both competition and decentralization. These descriptions may appear similar on the surface, but they emanate from contradictory analytical orientations. Competition entails a polycentric arrangement of competitors where there is no locus of control over the arrangement. In contrast, decentralization is a monocentric arrangement that involves a locus of control. To treat federalism as a method for decentralizing governments leads to a spurious form of federalism because the object that has been identified is not genuinely a competitively organized system of government. Genuine federalism requires a polycentric arrangement that is organized through openly competitive processes. In contrast, the spurious form of federalism allows hierarchy to trump open competition.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Article
- Introduction: Ex Uno Plures. Welfare Without Illusion
- Polycentric Polity: Genuine vs. Spurious Federalism
- Fiscal Equity In Federal Systems
- Federalism, Budget Deficits and Public Debt: On the Reform of Germany's Fiscal Constitution
- How Federalism Protects Future Generations from Today's Public Debts
- Raising vs. Leveling in the Social Organization of Welfare
- The Influence of Public Institutions on the Shadow Economy: An Empirical Investigation for OECD Countries
- Fiscal Federalism at the Ballot Box: The Relevance of Expressive Voting
- Federalism as an Effective Antidote to Terrorism
Articles in the same Issue
- Article
- Introduction: Ex Uno Plures. Welfare Without Illusion
- Polycentric Polity: Genuine vs. Spurious Federalism
- Fiscal Equity In Federal Systems
- Federalism, Budget Deficits and Public Debt: On the Reform of Germany's Fiscal Constitution
- How Federalism Protects Future Generations from Today's Public Debts
- Raising vs. Leveling in the Social Organization of Welfare
- The Influence of Public Institutions on the Shadow Economy: An Empirical Investigation for OECD Countries
- Fiscal Federalism at the Ballot Box: The Relevance of Expressive Voting
- Federalism as an Effective Antidote to Terrorism
