Font size:  |
| Tuesday, 19 May 2009 |
|
Centralised states bad for economy, study shows
EUOBSERVER/BRUSSELS – European countries where regions have more powers and responsibilities in terms of taxation, legislation and education policies tend to do better economically than centralised ones, a Swiss study shows.
“Centralism hammers development of countries at the cost of its citizens,” Klaus Klipp, secretary general of the Assembly of European Regions, an umbrella network of regions from 33 European countries, said on Monday at the launch of the study, which was commissioned by his organisation.
The study, developed by the Swiss-based BAK research centre, measures the impact of decentralisation on the economy, as well as the quality of education and innovation in 26 European countries, including non-EU members Switzerland, Norway and Croatia and excluding Luxembourg, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta – because of their small size.
The country ranking as most centralised was EU newcomer Bulgaria, followed by the Baltic states, Greece, Croatia, Norway, Ireland, Denmark and France.
At the other end of the scale, Switzerland – famous for deciding almost everything by referendum – ranked first, followed by Germany, Belgium, Spain, Austria and Italy.
The index was drawn up after a series of different factors were taken into account, for instance if public servants are employed on a national or regional level, if university or kindergarten policies are decided in the capital or the regions, if taxation is fixed only at a national level or also at local and regional levels.
The findings show that decentralisation has a positive impact both on GDP per capita and economic growth, although many of the new EU member states are still relatively centralised and have experienced high growth in the past 10 years.
But the authors of the study underline that these countries started off from a very low level and could have progressed even further if their regions and local authorities had more powers.
University performance, especially when it comes to patents and applied sciences, also flourishes when regions have the power to decide on educational policies – for instance in the German region of Baden Wurttemberg, where technical schools are strongly connected to the local high-tech industry.
Regional politicians, in Mr Klipp’s view, tend to be more involved in hands-on solutions for their constituencies, to whom they tend to have a closer connection than national decision-makers. He gave the example of a high-speed train between Paris and Strasbourg which was inaugurated after years of intensive lobbying by the regional authorities in Alsace.
A mayor in Transsylvania also managed to push for his town, Sibiu, to get an international airport, although initially the national government excluded it from the list. Sibiu was EU capital of culture in 2007 and has developed into a major hub for German small and medium enterprises.
Yet national competences should not be excluded or minimalised, especially during the economic crisis, Tomas Ekberg, representing the southwestern Swedish region of Vasetra Gotaland said. His region is home to carmaker Saab which is about to lay off some 4,000 people plus an estimated 6,000 people working in the car-supplying and service sector.
“We’re not here to say we don’t need nations – the labour market remains a competence of the national government. But it’s a question of responsibility and efficient spending of the taxpayer’s money,” Mr Ekberg said.
Although the findings do not come as a big surprise, with federalists and economist for a long time arguing that delegating powers from the centre to the regional and local governments improves economic performance, the Swiss academics say they are the first to have scientifically proven this theory.
“It is not just anecdotal, it is now a scientifically proven fact and we hope that it will give regional politicians more leverage when dealing with national decision-makers,” Urs Muller, the main author of the study, told this website.
By VALENTINA POP
This article first appeared on EU Observer
Comments
It is true and does follow a pattern. The idea and thinking was once highlighted by Thomas Knorr in his book: Small is Beautiful. The reasons usually have to do with the relative simplicity one has when one is dealing with smaller areas that are near-homogeneous. However, as the French subsidy under the CAP and the subsequent protests show – it may be more useful when the concerned member-state is equally honest about its commitments to the EU, as it is to its domestic audience.
Secondly, the issue of governance and transparency is the more important factor when one looks at a few things and that explains relative successes or failures. Mature democracies (unless hijacked from within) usually show a socialization that favours transparency and successful internalizations of values that favour such results.
Centralized states indicate the obverse and thus explain such findings. Imagine the centralized states with heterogeneous populations and figuring low in transparency and governance indices? Do we have those within the EU?
Microsoft Office 2007
Office 2007 Professional
Office 2007 Ultimate
Office Professional 2007
Office Ultimate 2007
Office 2007 key
Office 2007 enterprise
MS Office 2007
Office 2007 pro
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
I think it’s fair to say our world economy has caught somewhat of a Virus. In true F&J style, here’s a brief description of the many forms of economic viruses affecting the markets…Tiffany Pendants and while you’re at it why don’t you make up your own virus in the comments section.We really should do more of these, while some of our jokes are meant for a more “adult”
Tiffany Rings crowd (still safe for work and not vulgar or anything) – we’d like to post some jokes catered more towards are younger readers.Tiffany Cuff Links Specifically, short and simple jokes that kids can remember and tell their friends for a quick laugh.A commercial airplane is in flight to Chicago,
Tiffany Bangles when a blonde woman sitting in economy gets up and moves to an open seat in the first class section..Tiffany AccessoriesYesterday I was buying a large bag of Purina Dog Chow for Roscoe, our hunting dog, and was standing in line at Wal-Mart getting ready to
replica Breitling Watches I like contractors myself” says one. “even flinch whenreplica Bvlgari WatchesThey don’t even flinch when I tell them I underestimated the cost and length of surgery.” Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car puttering along at 22 MPH.replica Cartier Watches He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerousPaloma PicassodeskJapanese dignitary named “Kyoto Protocol.”even flinch when Return to Tiffanyname is “WORK.” If you receive WORK from your colleagues, your boss, via e-mail, or from anyone else-do not touch WORK under any circumstances. This virus wipes out yourTiffany 1837 private life completely.During WW II a British fightereven flinch whenTiffany keys pilot was shot down over Germany captured by the Nazis. ,Tiffany Notes so the German doctor amputated his left arm. He requested that they drop his arm over his base in England. So the Germans did.A Missouri pickup, Tiffany Somersetdrove several miles to a neighboring farm and knocked on the farmhouse door.
I firmly believe you need the Action Adventure with reasonable price that with the high quality,and we will let your dream come true,a bloody cool boy is born with our mbt boots in the crowd.So don’t hesitate,just come to our online shop to catch the opportunity once in the blue moon,to pick up and buy our workout dvd,a wide range from mbt boots,sport shoes and wholesale mbt to p90x fitness.Of course we are sure you will not miss our fantasy cheap video.I was lent by a very interesting book browsing to me by fashion designer Meiling,the so-called Guinness Guide to 20th Century Fashion,which means that each decade the share of dramatic changes in the fashion shown changes in the past decades,a little more extreme of the latter.Wear parts,changes and additions through in a few decades,but at the end of the century had lines very similar to those that are not at the beginning of the century,MBT Shoes,paint is the most important discount mbt shoes with Louis XV heelIn 1900,perhaps because women’s cheap mbt shoes legs never displayed and feet are seen sitting in part,stockings and mbt shoes sale are not given much attention.The wealthy wore silk socks in dark colors and buy mbt shoes and wholesale mbt shoes in his hand,pointed fingers and heels,the moderate high enough,and known as the Louis heel curve.fine silk or kid used for clothing styles and more often had small loops silk ribbons adorn the front.The mbt sale were clean and elegant,the mbt shoes sale matching color or tone complement the small voice.Every day the mbt walking shoes were very practical.Many have been the styles associated with almond-shaped fingers and Cuban heels or Luis.In the 20 years for a woman,shapely legs into a more active than ever.Socks and mbt shoes clearance were already large,increased hems.Black stockings are usually worn by the color of the review mbt shoes skin of silk or cotton Lisle been replaced.Silk stockings were expensive,but useful for the city and the night.For the country and sports,ribbed and patterned socks,wool and cotton were used in the rule.Diamante models were very popular.In summer,light color cotton socks have been very popular.Shoe City is looking nice and simple design.Alligator and crocodile skins were costly for suede and patent leather,were used more frequently.basic styles,the mbt reviews with laces or mbt shoes reviews with pointed ends easily and medium-sized businesses and high heels,either Louis or cut straight.mbts shoes with a simple fix or T-strap across the foot is also very popular,and mbts on sale are regarded as typical of the 1920s.long womens mbts and just started riding squahsed called Russian mbt men shoes were a fashion craze in the mid-twenties,but only for a few years and have never used as much or more mbts sale sixty seventy years have been.Sports mbt boost round toe and heel were lower,the Cubans,or flat and square.been top seam in the foot and heel cap used.Most top shoes or belts,some of which were opened on the arc and tied everything is connected,was a helper shoes,based on the traditional Scottish style.Afternoon shapes and designs are similar to the mbt discount shoes of the city every day but nothing more elegant in tissues such as satin or brocade,and often colored to match dresses. Silver and Golden Boy are very versatile in the game with a variety of dresses in different fabrics and colors.Fancy bows are sometimes used in the shoes.The buckles of silver or diamonds are used as decoration or as part of the belt.Beachbody DVD,Beachbody DVDSVibram Five Finger Kso Trek,Louis Vuitton Womens Boots,Louis Vuitton Sandals,louis vuitton loafers,Tory Burch Reva Flats,Tory Burch Reva Ballet Flats,Tory Burch Ali Sandal,tory burch flip flops,tory burch sophie wedges,tory burch heels,Tory Burch Ankle Boots,tory burch leopard print flats,Tory Burch Amy Mid-Heel Pumps,tory burch shoes replica,Jimmy Choo for H&M,Jimmy Choo Patent Platform,Jimmy Choo Cage Heels,Jimmy Choo Platform Shoes,jimmy choo heels,Jimmy Choo Clue Slingback,Jimmy Choo Leopard Print Shoes,Jimmy Choo Patent Leather Sandals,Jimmy Choo Satin Slingback,jimmy choo wedges sale,jimmy choo elaphe snake sandal,Manolo Blahnik Wedding Shoes,manolo blahnik sample sale,manolo blahnik something blue satin pump,Manolo Blahnik Hangisi,Replica Manolo Blahnik shoes,Manolo Blahnik Patent Leather Mary Jane,Manolo Blahnik Something Pink Satin Pump,Manolo Blahnik d’Orsay Silver,Manolo Blahnik Leopard d’Orsay,Manolo Blahnik Jeweled Satin d’Orsay,Manolo Blahnik Silver Sandals,manolo blahnik sedarby gold,Manolo Blahnik Buckle d’Orsay,ED Hardy Winter Boots,Herve Leger Bandage Skirt,Herve Leger High Twist Mini Skirts,Herve Leger Replica,Alexander Mcqueen Faithful Boots,Alexander McQueen PumpsZumba Fitness DVD boxset
louis vuitton bag or vibram shoes,
Gucci Mane performing to buyGucci bags replica handbags Bros
2009 Warner2009 WarnerGucci by Gucci Mane performing
windows key
windows product key
windows update
windows upgrade
windows key generator
windows activation key
change windows key
windows professional key
windows install key
windows cd key
buy windows key
replace windows key
cheap windows key
windows key sale
windows license key
microsoft windows key
microsoft product key
windows keygen
office keygen
Fitness shoes of MBT and Vibram Five Fingers are collected at our website. MBT Shoes on sale. MBT Shoes Clearance. You will find high-quality brand shoes at low prices.