Bird, Richard M.Das-Gupta, Arindam2013-08-262013-08-262013http://hdl.handle.net/10625/51557A framework for evaluating public finance structures and institutions in terms of revenue and spending as well as the fiscal balance is set out in this chapter. Some key areas such as VAT, earmarking, tax evasion and administration, and non-tax revenues are discussed. Increased globalization challenges national tax bases making it even more important to improve local fiscal expertise and institutions in developing countries. Finally, if local governments are sufficiently self-reliant and promote fiscal discipline, decentralization may produce gains in both efficiency and local accountability, possibly outweighing costs from the loss of some macroeconomic control and altered investment priorities.1 digital file (46 p.)Application/pdfenPUBLIC FINANCEFISCAL POLICYTAXATIONGLOBALIZATIONDEVELOPING COUNTRIESVALUE ADDED TAXTAX SYSTEMSRESOURCE ALLOCATIONDECENTRALIZATIONGLOBALGLOBAL SOUTHECONOMIC POLICYBook Chapter