Decentralization's effects on education and health: Evidence from Ethiopia

Arbeitspapier

We explore the effects of decentralization on education and health in Ethiopia using an original database covering all of the country's regions and woredas (local governments). Ethiopia is a remarkable case in which war, famine and chaos in the 1970s-80s were followed by federalization, decentralization, rapid growth and dramatic improvements in human development. Did decentralization contribute to these successes? We use time series and panel data analyses to show that decentralization improved net enrollments in primary schools and access to antenatal care for pregnant women. The main channel appears to be institutional, not fiscal. We offer the database as an additional contribution.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Working Paper Series ; No. 19-197

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Public Goods ; State and Local Government: Health; Education; Welfare; Public Pensions ; Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism; Secession
• Subject: Decentralization ; Education ; Health ; Public investment ; Ethiopia ; Local government

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Faguet, Jean-Paul ; Khan, Qaiser ; Kanth, Devarakonda Priyanka
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Department of International Development
• (where): London
• (when): 2019

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/224823
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET