Conclusions

This chapter summarises findings from the previous chapters in a comparative fashion. Similar patterns of financial vulnerability were identified across different nations with respect to the role of contextual economic, institutional, and organisational circumstances affecting financial vulnerability and the effectiveness of resilience measures. Findings reveal that in the next year, financial vulnerability could increase at the local level without further interventions. Future research may sharpen models used to monitor financial vulnerability, understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted local governments (LGs) across the world, and identify gaps in central governments' relief policy, and the potential long-term changes that may be observed amongst LGs.