26 EROPA Bulletin
Government (Institutions...)
(From page 25)
Disequalizing Equalization Transfers: Politics of
Intergovernmental Transfers in Khon Kaen Province
The team presentation
of Drs. Achakorn
Wongpreedee
and Tatchalerm
Sudhipongpracha
showed the
extent to which
Thailand’s current
intergovernmental
fiscal transfers system
help achieve horizontal
fiscal equity among Thai local governments. Dr.
Wongpreedee laid the institutional framework for
decentralization and local public finance in Thailand.
He located their paper within the theory of fiscal
federalism and the role of national government in
addressing the vertical and horizontal imbalances
in using intergovernmental fiscal transfers. He also
presented the research method and statistical model
for their study. The study draws its quantitative
and qualitative analyses based on a case study in
Khon Kaen Province. Dr. Sudhipongpracha argued
that the current design of fiscal transfers, which is
politicized, does not address the horizontal imbalances
across diverse local
governments in
Thailand. The study
argued that “resourcerich communities
receive more
national government
transfers than those
with cash-strapped
communities.” They
concluded that the
formula for fiscal transfers in Thailand is inconsistent
with theory and that it exacerbates imbalances, thereby
resulting in the absence of basic needs (e.g., potable
water) and poor local service delivery. Moreover,
the process of determining the amount of transfers is
clouded by the political dynamics between national
Vol. 34 Nos. 3-4 (July-December 2013)
and local politicians as well as central government
bureaucrats. The local governments in the province
resort to extensive borrowing to finance their programs
and projects. Based on their findings and arguments,
Wongpredee and Sudhipongpracha suggested the need
to design intergovernmental fiscal transfers to alleviate
horizontal fiscal equity.
Globalization, Public Sector Reform and Vicissitudes
of Nation-States
Dr. Danilo Reyes’ presentation explored the
ramifications of institutional and structural responses
– and outcomes – of nation-states in the context of
globalization and new world order, where relationships
are characterized as
“supraterritorial.” Dr.
Reyes impressively
connected
terminologies,
viewpoints and
theories of phenomenal
scholars and leaders to
explain the evolution
of and patterns
in nation-states,
institutions, bureaucratic structures, administrative
systems and processes, and international
arrangements and connections around the world in
the past century. He posited that, “over the years, the
state has assumed many incarnations dictated by the
exigencies and demands of the eras that enveloped
it” with reference to the “big government, minimalist
state and hollow state.” Dr. Reyes concluded with a
challenge and research agenda for the study of public
administration to capture and articulate new theories,
concepts, prescriptions and principles as a result of
globalization and the new international order. Focus
may be given to theories on new institutionalism,
network, international governance and the role of
international organizations as they affect public
administrative systems and processes. These will
provide better understanding of the new frontier of
public administration as a discipline as well as deepen
the base for pursuing public sector reforms.