U.K. devolution of interest to U.S.

• Position: News & Numbers - Brief article

Moving away from a centralized system of public finance, or devolution, has become a popular concept in the U.K., and it holds interest for U.S. jurisdictions as well. U.K. cities lack most powers that U.S. cities take for granted, such as raising their own revenue and designating funding, and most taxes are paid to the central government (95 percent versus 65 percent in the United States)."This system prevents timely, tailored responses to pressing local issues and eliminates any incentive for innovative local policymaking," according to the Royal Society of the Arts City Growth Commission (www.thersa.org), which details ways central government can best encourage cities' success.

"The U.S. is much more devolved than the U.K., and as a result, our cities and metropolitan areas have been able to leverage their distinctive...