Decentralization and bailouts in Colombia

Abstract

Descentralization has meny benefits, but it can also weaken fiscal discipline, specifically, expectations on the possibility of a bailout by central government create incentives for fiscal misbehavior, fiscal discipline does not pay because it carries a smaller expected bailout. In Colombia the substantial transfer form the central government to the sub-regions created structural expenditure pressures and irresponsible behavior in terms of debt (mainly ñoans from banks), brought the departments into default and forced the central government to bail them out.