Research by Author & Topic

Publications by George E. Peterson on International Issues

The conceptual and legal framework for the development of an effective system of local governance in Pakistan was created in July 2001, and a review of the Local Government Ordinance of 2001 reveals that the rules and procedures to govern the process have been set in place. Yet, four and a half years into devolution, political decentralization has not been followed by adequate administrative and fiscal decentralization to ensure quality service delivery to the public. This report assesses the progress and challenges of effective and efficient service delivery in the health, education, and water sectors, local fiscal roles and responsibilities, and local government accountability and citizen participation under devolution. Conclusions presented in the report focus on "governance" issues impeding successful devolution. Many of the recommendations are aimed at donor organizations and several are already being addressed by ongoing USAID projects.

This paper considers whether one or more conferences would help clarify the policy choices facing the Czech Republic and help introduce new credit mechanisms that could improve credit market access for small municipalities. The paper reviews the tools available for increasing small community access to capital and briefly touches upon the relationship between the central and local governments. It then outlines the potential topics for a conference or seminar focusing on pooled financing and reviews the universe of credit subsidies in the Czech Republic.

This annual monitoring report reviews progress as of Spring 1997 under the Municipal Infrastructure Finance Program established between the Czech Republic and the United States. Included are (1) a summary of the program's disbursement and loan repayment record; (2) a description of the municipal investment projects and the structure of commercial bank loans to municipalities financed under the program; (3) information on the program's financial operations and a discussion on its capacity to perform its current role and future functions in the municipal credit market; and (4) an examination of the municipal credit market and infrastructure financing in the Czech Republic.

This report provides a background for the financing of local infrastructure investment in Romania. It summarizes the U.S. Agency for International Development's strategic context, discusses municipal creditworthiness and decentralized creditworthiness, and provides specific findings related to developing a municipal credit facility for Romania.

This paper reviews the investment finance situation and municipal credit activity in four East European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and the Slovak Republic in 1994. It provides a brief overview of Central Government initiatives that have been enacted in support of municipal credit; an estimate of the magnitude of borrowing by municipalities in the four countries; an explanation of why lending has remained limited to date; and a discussion of major issues that have emerged in establishing national municipal credit systems.