{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T15:23:39Z","timestamp":1775057019181,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":57,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]],"date-time":"2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747699200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Centro de Administra\u00e7\u00e3o e Pol\u00edticas P\u00fablicas","award":["UIDB\/00713\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00713\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Administrative Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Decentralization is a process that allows local governments to play a more active role in decision-making and the management of public policies. This process involves transferring responsibilities, resources, and authority from central to local governments, bringing the decisions and provision of public services and policies closer to the needs of citizens in each region. Portugal established a regime for asymmetric, multi-level, and multi-sectoral decentralization governance that is primarily focused on the policy (administrative) dimension. This study proposes conceptual and methodological foundations for building a decentralization index in Portugal aimed at measuring and comparing its outcomes across municipalities and policy areas of the social domain. The conceptual foundations enable a model that combines the state capacity concept with the three-dimensional decentralization theory, defining a framework of dimensions, objectives, and principles with potential indicators for a future index. The methodological cornerstones provide a qualitative scheme for determining the indicators that should comprise the decentralization index, data collection, processing methods, and analytical strategies. Although decentralization in Portugal dates back to the mid-2010s and the transfer of competences is formally complete as of 2023, at least in the social domain, its evaluation falls short of what is needed, including measuring its results in this domain. This study aims to present proposals that address these gaps and encourage a critical debate on decentralization, its frameworks, processes, and results.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/admsci15050187","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]],"date-time":"2025-05-20T04:48:18Z","timestamp":1747716498000},"page":"187","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Building a Decentralization Index in Portugal: A Proposal on Conceptual and Methodological Foundations"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5937-0362","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Helena","family":"Teles","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Superior de Ci\u00eancias Sociais e Pol\u00edticas, Centro de Administra\u00e7\u00e3o e Pol\u00edticas P\u00fablicas, Unidade de Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Servi\u00e7o Social e Pol\u00edtica Social, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5524-3830","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tem\u00edstocles Oliveira","family":"J\u00fanior","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Superior de Ci\u00eancias Sociais e Pol\u00edticas, Centro de Administra\u00e7\u00e3o e Pol\u00edticas P\u00fablicas, Unidade de Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Servi\u00e7o Social e Pol\u00edtica Social, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6378-6325","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joaquim","family":"Caeiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Superior de Ci\u00eancias Sociais e Pol\u00edticas, Centro de Administra\u00e7\u00e3o e Pol\u00edticas P\u00fablicas, Unidade de Coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de Servi\u00e7o Social e Pol\u00edtica Social, Universidade de Lisboa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.1007\/s11135-014-0025-8","article-title":"Empowering local communities: Decentralization, empowerment and community driven development","volume":"49","author":"Ahmad","year":"2014","journal-title":"Quality & Quantity"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Allain-Dupr\u00e9, D., Chatry, I., and Moisio, A. (2020). Asymmetric decentralization: Trends, challenges and policy implications, OECD."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Amado, A. (2020). Monitoriza\u00e7\u00e3o das din\u00e2micas territoriais de \u00e2mbito local: Um contributo metodol\u00f3gico para a avalia\u00e7\u00e3o das pol\u00edticas p\u00fablicas de base territorial em Portugal. [Ph.D. Thesis, Faculdade de Arquitetura, Universidade de Lisboa]."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Assembleia da Rep\u00fablica (2013). Lei n.\u00ba 75\/2013, de 12 de setembro, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/legislacao-consolidada\/lei\/2013-56366098."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Assembleia da Rep\u00fablica (2018a). Lei n.\u00ba 50\/2018, de 16 de agosto, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/lei\/50-2018-116068877."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Assembleia da Rep\u00fablica (2018b). Lei n.\u00ba 51\/2018, de 16 de agosto, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/lei\/51-2018-116068878."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpubeco.2017.12.010","article-title":"Regional state capacity and the optimal degree of fiscal decentralization","volume":"159","author":"Bellofatto","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Public Economics"},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Bogdan, R., and Bilken, S. (1994). Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o qualitativa em educa\u00e7\u00e3o, Porto Editora."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2010.10.019","article-title":"Health sector decentralization and local decision-making: Decision space, institutional capacities and accountability in Pakistan","volume":"72","author":"Bossert","year":"2011","journal-title":"Social Science & Medicine"},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Caeiro, J. (2015). Hist\u00f3ria da administra\u00e7\u00e3o p\u00fablica portuguesa: Das origens da Peninsula Ib\u00e9rica ao Estado Absoluto, Edi\u00e7\u00f5es ISCSP."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Caeiro, J. (2018). Hist\u00f3ria da administra\u00e7\u00e3o p\u00fablica portuguesa: Do Liberalismo ao Estado Novo, Edi\u00e7\u00f5es ISCSP."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2012). Proposta de Lei n.\u00ba 104\/XII, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/analise-juridica\/parlamento\/75-2013-500023."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2019a). Decreto-Lei n.\u00ba 21\/2019, de 30 de janeiro, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/decreto-lei\/21-2019-118748848."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2019b). Decreto-Lei n.\u00ba 23\/2019, de 30 de janeiro, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/decreto-lei\/23-2019-118748850."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2020). Decreto-Lei n.\u00ba 55\/2020, de 12 de agosto, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/decreto-lei\/55-2020-140087205."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2022a). Decreto-Lei n.\u00ba 84-E\/2022, de 14 de dezembro, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/decreto-lei\/84-e-2022-204734601."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2022b). Resolu\u00e7\u00e3o do Conselho de Ministros n.\u00ba 108\/2022, de 23 de novembro, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/resolucao-conselho-ministros\/108-2022-203802282."},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Conselho de Ministros (2023). Decreto-Lei n.\u00ba 16\/2023, de 27 de fevereiro, Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica. Available online: https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/detalhe\/decreto-lei\/16-2023-207881789."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"DGAL (2024, November 20). Relat\u00f3rio de acompanhamento do processo de descentraliza\u00e7\u00e3o\u20141.\u00ba semestre de 2023, Available online: https:\/\/portalautarquico.dgal.gov.pt\/ficheiros\/?schema=f7664ca7-3a1a-4b25-9f46-2056eef44c33&channel=266f4a32-848e-4d2c-99c6-ad5b5511d7fe&content_id=FCAA18A3-3247-432D-A0D3-A619E3C0A148&field=storage_image&lang=pt&ver=1&filetype=pdf&dtestate=2024-03-28130503."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"DGAL (2024, November 20). Relat\u00f3rio de Acompanhamento do Processo de Descentraliza\u00e7\u00e3o\u20144.\u00ba trimestre de 2022, Available online: https:\/\/portalautarquico.dgal.gov.pt\/ficheiros\/?schema=f7664ca7-3a1a-4b25-9f46-2056eef44c33&channel=266f4a32-848e-4d2c-99c6-ad5b5511d7fe&content_id=9597D31B-68B3-451C-8053-8A7475A77BD6&field=storage_image&lang=pt&ver=1&filetype=pdf&dtestate=2023-05-22105918."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"DGAL (2024, November 20). Relat\u00f3rio de Acompanhamento do Processo de Descentraliza\u00e7\u00e3o\u20142.\u00ba semestre de 2023, Available online: https:\/\/portalautarquico.dgal.gov.pt\/ficheiros\/?schema=f7664ca7-3a1a-4b25-9f46-2056eef44c33&channel=266f4a32-848e-4d2c-99c6-ad5b5511d7fe&content_id=0623130A-D861-4013-B14A-1E1573EBFA98&field=storage_image&lang=pt&ver=1&filetype=pdf&dtestate=2024-03-28134826."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Di Maro, V., Evans, D. K., Khemani, S., and Arruda, T. (2022). Building state capacity: What is the impact of development projects? (Policy Research Working Paper, Issue), T. W. Bank.","DOI":"10.2139\/ssrn.4075621"},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"European Committee of the Regions (2025, March 31). Decentralization index, Available online: https:\/\/portal.cor.europa.eu\/divisionpowers\/Pages\/Decentralization-Index.aspx."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Falleti, T. G. (2010). Decentralization and subnational politics in Latin America, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511777813"},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Broschek, A. B. a. J. (2013). Decentralization in time: A process-tracing approach to federal dynamics of change. Federal dynamics: Continuity, change, and the varieties of federalism, Oxford University Press."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1029","DOI":"10.1016\/S0305-750X(97)00020-X","article-title":"The Emergence of local capacity: Lessons from Colombia","volume":"25","author":"Fiszbein","year":"1997","journal-title":"World Development"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1017\/S0003055404001182","article-title":"What is a case study and what is it good for?","volume":"98","author":"Gerring","year":"2004","journal-title":"The American Political Science Review"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"580","DOI":"10.1590\/0103-1104202012523","article-title":"An\u00e1lise de dados qualitativos","volume":"44","author":"Gibbs","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sa\u00fade em Debate"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Teles, F. (2023). Intra-municipal decentralization: Going below traditional tiers of government. Handbook on local and regional governance, Edward Elgar Publishing.","DOI":"10.4337\/9781800371200"},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"185","article-title":"The variety of decentralization indexes: A review of the literature","volume":"31","author":"Cole","year":"2019","journal-title":"Regional & Federal Studies"},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Hern\u00e1ndez-Sampieri, R., and Torres, C. P. M. (2018). Metodolog\u00eda de la investigaci\u00f3n: Las rutas cuantitativa, cualitativa y mixta, McGraw-Hill. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hooghe, L., Marks, G., and Schakel, A. H. (2010). The rise of regional authority: A comparative study of 42 democracies, Routledge. [1st ed.].","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203852170"},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"IPDET (2007). IPDET handbook, International Program for Development Evaluation Training."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Kusek, Z., and Rist, R. (2004). Ten steps to a results-based monitoring and evaluation system: A handbook for development practitioners, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development\/The World Bank."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Litvack, J., Ahmad, J., and Bird, R. (1998). Rethinking decentralization in developing countries, World Bank.","DOI":"10.1596\/0-8213-4350-5"},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"Marconi, J., and Lakatos, E. (2003). Metodologia cient\u00edfica, Editora Atlas."},{"key":"ref_37","unstructured":"Maxwell, J. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach, Sage."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Minist\u00e9rio Adjunto e dos Assuntos Parlamentares (2025, May 04). Documento verde da reforma da administra\u00e7\u00e3o local, Available online: https:\/\/peoples.ces.uc.pt\/forms\/getFile.php?id=121&op=doc."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"Neto, A., and Gehlen, I. (2018). Sistemas de monitoramento e avalia\u00e7\u00e3o. Planejamento e gest\u00e3o de projetos [recurso eletr\u00f3nico], Editora Senac. S\u00e3o Paulo."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"OECD (2019). Making decentralization work: A handbook for policy-makers, OECD Publishing. Available online: https:\/\/www.oecd-ilibrary.org\/docserver\/g2g9faa7-en.pdf?expires=1733179763&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=5B9899D68E034661CED66A1206BD258F.","DOI":"10.1787\/g2g9faa7-en"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"OECD (2020). Decentralisation and Regionalisation in Portugal: What reform scenarios?, OECD Publishing. Available online: https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/en\/publications\/decentralisation-and-regionalisation-in-portugal_fea62108-en.html.","DOI":"10.1787\/fea62108-en"},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Pencheon, D. (2008). The good indicators guide: Understanding how to use and choose indicators, NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1590\/1678-987316245806","article-title":"Governan\u00e7a e capacidades estatais: Uma an\u00e1lise comparativa de programas federais","volume":"24","author":"Pires","year":"2016","journal-title":"Revista de Sociologia e Pol\u00edtica"},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Rodr\u00edguez-Pose, A., and Kr\u00f8ijer, A. (2024, November 25). Fiscal decentralization and economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe. LEQS paper no. 12. SSRN, Available online: https:\/\/ssrn.com\/abstract=1550917."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1604","DOI":"10.1177\/0308518X221118913","article-title":"The economic returns of decentralization: Government quality and the role of space","volume":"54","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1016\/j.habitatint.2015.08.026","article-title":"Decentralization and small cities: Towards more effective urban disaster governance?","volume":"52","author":"Rumbach","year":"2016","journal-title":"Habitat International"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fischer, F., Miller, G. J., and Sidney, M. S. (2007). Qualitative research and public policy. Handbook of public policy analysis: Theory, politics, and methods, Taylor & Francis Group.","DOI":"10.1201\/9781420017007"},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"Sampieri, R., Collado, C., and Lucio, P. (2007). Fundamentos de metodolog\u00eda de la investigaci\u00f3n, MacGraw-Hill."},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"Sangreman, C. (2021). Manual de introdu\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e0 constru\u00e7\u00e3o de indicadores de monitoriza\u00e7\u00e3o, CEsA\u2014Centro de Estudos sobre \u00c1frica e Desenvolvimento da Universidade de Lisboa."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Setiawan, A., Tjiptoherijanto, P., Mahi, B., and Khoirunurrofik, K. (2022). The Impact of Local Government Capacity on Public Service Delivery: Lessons Learned from Decentralized Indonesia. Economies, 10, (12).","DOI":"10.3390\/economies10120323"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Silva, C. N., and Bu\u010dek, J. (2017). Political and administrative decentralization in Portugal: Four decades of democratic local government. Local government and urban governance in Europe, Springer International Publishing.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-43979-2_2"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stern, P. (1980). Grounded theory methodology: Its uses and processes. Image, 12, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1547-5069.1980.tb01455.x"},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"Tavares, A., de Sousa, L., Macedo, A., Fernandes, D., Teles, F., Mota, L. F., da Cruz, N. F., and Pires, R. (2025, February 02). Qualidade da governa\u00e7\u00e3o local em Portugal, Available online: https:\/\/ffms.pt\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-07\/qualidade-da-governacao-local-em-portugal.pdf."},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"Tribunal de Contas de Portugal (2023). Relat\u00f3rio n.\u00ba 4\/2023\u2014OAC 2\u00aa Se\u00e7\u00e3o\u2014O processo de transfer\u00eancia de compet\u00eancias para os Munic\u00edpios\u2014Lei n.\u00ba 50\/2018, de 16 de agosto, Tribunal de Contas de Portugal. Available online: https:\/\/www.tcontas.pt\/pt-pt\/ProdutosTC\/Relatorios\/relatorios-oac\/Documents\/2023\/rel-oac004-2023-2s.pdf."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Tribunal de Contas de Portugal (2024). Relat\u00f3rio n.\u00ba 1\/2024\u2014AUDIT\u20142\u00aa Sec\u00e7\u00e3o\u2014Auditoria \u00e0 dimens\u00e3o financeira do processo de descentraliza\u00e7\u00e3o de compet\u00eancias (2022), Tribunal de Contas de Portugal. Available online: https:\/\/www.tcontas.pt\/pt-pt\/ProdutosTC\/Relatorios\/RelatoriosAuditoria\/Documents\/2024\/rel001-2024-2s.pdf."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Weiss, L. (1998). The myth of the powerless state, Cornell University Press.","DOI":"10.7591\/9781501711732"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1017\/S1744137420000478","article-title":"Beyond state capacity: Bureaucratic performance, policy implementation and reform","volume":"17","author":"Williams","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Institutional Economics"}],"container-title":["Administrative Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3387\/15\/5\/187\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:35:29Z","timestamp":1760031329000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-3387\/15\/5\/187"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]]},"references-count":57,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}},"alternative-id":["admsci15050187"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/admsci15050187","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-3387"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-3387","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,20]]}}}