{
  "title": "On the Implementation of Transfers to Subnational Governments",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, June 1, 2005",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/index.md",
  "summary": "This paper examines a typology of grants that are used across the world, and places these in the context of the overall constitutional and legal framework for a country.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview",
      "content": "- Examines a typology of grants used across the world and situates these within the overall constitutional and legal framework for a country.\n- Assesses options for grants given the need to maintain overall macroeconomic stability, efficiency in the use of scarce resources, and reduced horizontal disparities.\n- Evaluates the role of central objectives in a decentralized framework.\n- Argues for a comprehensive framework for grants and for a proper institutional framework to manage grants systems."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings and analytical themes",
      "content": "- Typology of grants:\n  - Identifies different grant types used internationally (as described in the paper) and places them in constitutional and legal contexts.\n- Trade-offs and objectives:\n  - Stresses the need to balance macroeconomic stability, efficient use of scarce resources, and reduction of horizontal disparities when designing transfers.\n- Central objectives in decentralized systems:\n  - Analyzes how central government objectives can be pursued within decentralized frameworks through grant design.\n- Institutional requirements:\n  - Emphasizes the importance of a proper institutional framework to manage grant systems effectively."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy recommendations",
      "content": "- Adopt a comprehensive framework for grants that aligns grant typology with constitutional and legal constraints.\n- Design grant systems to:\n  - Maintain overall macroeconomic stability.\n  - Promote efficiency in the use of scarce resources.\n  - Reduce horizontal disparities across subnational governments.\n- Establish and strengthen institutional arrangements to manage transfers and ensure alignment with central objectives in decentralized settings.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- wp05130\n  - wp05130 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - wp05130 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Bob Searle, Ehtisham Ahmad",
    "Published: June 1, 2005",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451861495.001",
    "Examines a typology of grants used across the world and situates these within the overall constitutional and legal framework for a country.",
    "Assesses options for grants given the need to maintain overall macroeconomic stability, efficiency in the use of scarce resources, and reduced horizontal disparities.",
    "Evaluates the role of central objectives in a decentralized framework.",
    "Argues for a comprehensive framework for grants and for a proper institutional framework to manage grants systems.",
    "Typology of grants:",
    "Trade-offs and objectives:",
    "Central objectives in decentralized systems:",
    "Institutional requirements:",
    "Adopt a comprehensive framework for grants that aligns grant typology with constitutional and legal constraints.",
    "Design grant systems to:",
    "Establish and strengthen institutional arrangements to manage transfers and ensure alignment with central objectives in decentralized settings.",
    "**_wp05130**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "_wp05130",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2005/_wp05130.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2005/_wp05130.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2005/_wp05130.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/on-the-implementation-of-transfers-to-subnational-governments-18283/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-17T18:47:53.687Z"
}