Financing Cities in India: Municipal Reforms, Fiscal Accountability and Urban Infrastructure

How is management of municipal finances related to economic growth and productive employment in urban India?

This book identifies Indian municipalities as among the weakest globally in terms of access to resources, revenue-raising capacity and fiscal autonomy. Advocating reforms in these sectors, it discusses the lack of clarity, consistency, adequacy and predictability in municipal taxation, user charging, inter-governmental transfers and development financing as key factors plaguing city finances.

Topical and up-to-date, the book brings out the need to align particular types of revenues to particular categories of expenditure so that services can be delivered in a responsive, transparent and accountable manner.