How to Measure Decentralization

As decentralization is a cross-cutting concept, there are many ways to measure it. This short note aims to unpack the concepts of decentralization by conducting a global literature review. It starts with a review of the traditional ways of approaching decentralization and the history of its development, including arguments on the merits and limitations of each method. While there are some limitations, the author concludes that integrated quantitative and qualitative approaches using Regional Authority Index (RAI) type indicators are the most comprehensive and objective measures to assess decentralization with its quantifiable score-based method, which employs greater objectivity than purely quantitative methods