Local governments, federalism, and development : An upward process of fiscal responsibility in the Argentine Republic

Abstract

This research adopts a mixed-methods approach, predominantly qualitative in nature, and integrates exploratory, explanatory, and correlational designs. Its primary objective is to develop a critical and forward-looking assessment of the role of local governments within Argentina’s system of fiscal federalism. The analysis is grounded in the dynamics of intergovernmental relations and the distribution of competencies defined by the country’s legal, political, institutional, fiscal, and financial framework across the national, provincial, and municipal levels. Argentine municipalities face persistent structural challenges—such as limited fiscal autonomy, a high dependency on intergovernmental transfers, and significant territorial disparities—that constrain their effectiveness in public policy implementation. Based on this diagnosis, the study proposes concrete strategies to strengthen the role of local governments through a bottom-up reconstruction approach, aimed at fostering a more equitable, efficient, and participatory model of federal development.