Editing Decentralization (section)

=== Processes ===
; Initiation
The processes by which entities move from a more to a less centralized state vary. They can be initiated from the centers of authority ("[[wikt:top-down|top-down]]") or from individuals, localities or regions ("[[Top-down and bottom-up design|bottom-up]]"),<ref name=Lkhagvadorj>Ariunaa Lkhagvadorj, ''Fiscal federalism and decentralization in Mongolia'', [[University of Potsdam]], Germany, 2010, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gDK4fsCj7ZYC&dq=top+down+bottom+up+decentralization&pg=PA23 p. 23] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610015545/https://books.google.com/books?id=gDK4fsCj7ZYC&pg=PA23 |date=2016-06-10 }}, {{ISBN|978-3869560533}}</ref> or from a "mutually desired" combination of authorities and localities working together.<ref>Karin E. Kemper, Ariel Dinar, ''Integrated River Basin Management Through Decentralization'', Springer, 2007, [https://books.google.com/books?id=k0BMK_M9gN4C&dq=top+down+bottom+up+decentralization&pg=PA36 p. 36] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425193730/https://books.google.com/books?id=k0BMK_M9gN4C&pg=PA36 |date=2016-04-25 }}, {{ISBN|978-3540283553}}.</ref> Bottom-up decentralization usually stresses political values like local responsiveness and increased participation and tends to increase political stability. Top-down decentralization may be motivated by the desire to "shift deficits downwards" and find more resources to pay for services or pay off government debt.<ref name=Lkhagvadorj/> Some hold that decentralization should not be imposed, but done in a respectful manner.<ref>"Decentralization: A Sampling of Definitions", 1999, p. 12.</ref>

; Appropriate size
Gauging the appropriate size or scale of decentralized units has been studied in relation to the size of sub-units of hospitals<ref>Robert J. Taylor, Susan B. Taylor, ''The Aupha Manual of Health Services Management'', Jones & Bartlett Learning, 1994, p. 33, {{ISBN|978-0834203631}}</ref> and schools,<ref name=Daun/> road networks,<ref>Frannie Frank Humplick, Azadeh Moini Araghi, "[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/1996/09/01/000009265_3961214192049/Rendered/PDF/multi_page.pdf Is There an Optimal Structure for Decentralized Provision of Roads?]", [[World Bank]] Policy Research Working Paper, 1996, p. 35.</ref> administrative units in business<ref>Abbass F. Alkhafaji, ''Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control in a Dynamic Environment'', [[Psychology Press]], 2003, p. 184, {{ISBN|978-0789018106}}</ref> and public administration, and especially town and city governmental areas and decision-making bodies.<ref>Ehtisham Ahmad, Vito Tanzi, ''Managing Fiscal Decentralization'', Routledge, 2003, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qzcVmaqpitwC&dq=%22appropriate+size%22+government+decentralization&pg=PA182 p. 182] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527064232/https://books.google.com/books?id=qzcVmaqpitwC&pg=PA182 |date=2016-05-27 }}, {{ISBN|978-0203219997}}</ref><ref>Aaron Tesfaye, ''Political Power and Ethnic Federalism: The Struggle for Democracy in Ethiopia'', [[University Press of America]], 2002, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XD9oFjvFurAC&dq=%22appropriate+size%22+government+decentralization&pg=PA44 p. 44] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502070342/https://books.google.com/books?id=XD9oFjvFurAC&pg=PA44 |date=2016-05-02 }}, {{ISBN|978-0761822394}}</ref>

In creating [[Planned community|planned communities]] ("new towns"), it is important to determine the appropriate population and geographical size. While in earlier years small towns were considered appropriate, by the 1960s, 60,000 inhabitants was considered the size necessary to support a diversified job market and an adequate shopping center and array of services and entertainment. Appropriate size of governmental units for revenue raising also is a consideration.<ref>Harry Ward Richardson, ''Urban economics'', Dryden Press, 1978, [https://archive.org/details/urbaneconomics0000rich <!-- quote="appropriate size" . --> pp. 107, 133, 159] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513073909/https://books.google.com/books?ei=Gr0bUerHCofB0QG6v4Ag&id=d9YpAQAAMAAJ&q=%22appropriate+size%22+ |date=2016-05-13 }}.</ref>

Even in [[bioregionalism]], which seeks to reorder many functions and even the boundaries of governments according to physical and environmental features, including [[Drainage basin|watershed]] boundaries and [[soil]] and [[terrain]] characteristics, appropriate size must be considered. The unit may be larger than many decentralist-bioregionalists prefer.<ref>Allen G Noble, Frank J. Costa, ''Preserving the Legacy: Concepts in Support of Sustainability'', Lexington Books, 1999, [https://books.google.com/books?id=QVDd6tQLZ9kC&dq=Bioregionalism+appropriate+size&pg=PA214 p. 214] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513194245/https://books.google.com/books?id=QVDd6tQLZ9kC&pg=PA214 |date=2016-05-13 }}, {{ISBN|978-0739100158}}</ref>

; Inadvertent or silent
Decentralization ideally happens as a careful, rational, and orderly process, but it often takes place during times of economic and political crisis, the fall of a regime and the resultant power struggles. Even when it happens slowly, there is a need for experimentation, testing, adjusting, and replicating successful experiments in other contexts. There is no one blueprint for decentralization since it depends on the initial state of a country and the power and views of political interests and whether they support or oppose decentralization.<ref>"Decentralization: A Sampling of Definitions", 1999, p. 21.</ref>

Decentralization usually is a conscious process based on explicit policies. However, it may occur as "silent decentralization" in the absence of reforms as changes in networks, policy emphasize and resource availability lead inevitably to a more decentralized system.<ref>H.F.W. Dubois and G. Fattore, [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01900690902908760 Definitions and typologies in public administration research: the case of decentralization], ''International Journal of Public Administration'', Volume 32, Issue 8, 2009, pp. 704–27.</ref>

; Asymmetry
Decentralization may be uneven and "asymmetric" given any one country's population, political, ethnic and other forms of diversity. In many countries, political, economic and administrative responsibilities may be decentralized to the larger urban areas, while rural areas are administered by the central government. Decentralization of responsibilities to provinces may be limited only to those provinces or states which want or are capable of handling responsibility. Some privatization may be more appropriate to an urban than a rural area; some types of privatization may be more appropriate for some states and provinces but not others.<ref>"Decentralization: A Sampling of Definitions", 1999, p. 19.</ref>