Financial divergences of equalization and their impact on regional development in Morocco
| Author | Aziza Benkada,Mohammed Belouchi |
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0020852320905353 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Financial divergences
of equalization and their
impact on regional
development in Morocco
Aziza Benkada
Mohammed 1 University, Morocco
Mohammed Belouchi
Mohammed 1 University, Morocco
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to analyse the impact of financial equalization on regional
development in Morocco. While the redistribution of wealth through the financial
equalization mechanism promotes equality and equity in favour of poor and disadvan-
taged regions, this mechanism still suffers from several shortcomings. The following
analysis confirms that financial equalization has an amortization effect both on the
donor regions that are forced to allocate part of their resources and on the recipient
regions that risk falling into a development trap. Notwithstanding this analysis, equal-
ization promotes solidarity and equality between territories; however, the actual situ-
ation on the ground confirms that this mechanism does not encourage beneficiary
regions to improve their tax effort or develop their development strategies. The effec-
tiveness of the equalization system therefore requires a detailed understanding of the
reasons for inequalities in order to act on the causes rather than on the symptoms.
Points for practitioners
In the processes of territorial public management, the scarcity of financial resources is
all the more reason to opt for more efficient investments. The quality of investments is
more important than their quantity. The adoption of such an approach is a strategic
move if disastrous consequences on public facilities are to be avoided in the long term.
Corresponding author:
Aziza Benkada, Mohammed 1 University, ERJAP Research Laboratory, Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social
Sciences of Oujda University Complex – Hay Al Qods B.PP. 724, Oujda 60000, Morocco.
Email: Azizabenkada1@gmail.com
International Review of Administrative
Sciences
!The Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/0020852320905353
journals.sagepub.com/home/ras
2022, Vol. 88(1) 225–239
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