ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the attitudes of second-tier councillors towards a decentralisation process and their perception in fostering local economic development. It is important to explore these attitudes because of the role assigned to sub-national level of government in promoting sustainable economic growth. The chapter discusses decentralisation trends and the fiscal autonomy of sub-national government in different countries. Depending on different levels of decentralisation and fiscal autonomy in the analysed countries, county councillors' actual influence can significantly differ from their perception. The chapter analyzes survey results of councillors' attitudes towards decentralisation and reforms. The analysis of the survey data starts with an analysis of the county councillors' attitude towards the importance of the coordination of local economic development in different European countries. The chapter also analyzes the data on the attitudes of county councillors toward decentralisation of tasks to the county as well as decentralisation of tasks to the municipalities.
