Decentralization and democracy may improve the chances for successful economic
development. The importance of local government and democracy is evident in the history of
many countries, but democratic local government has been less common in Africa than
elsewhere. Democratic political competition can improve governance only if voters have a
choice among qualified candidates who have good reputations for exercising power responsibly
in public service. This essential supply of trusted democratic leadership can develop best in
responsible institutions of local government, where successful local leaders can prove their
qualifications to become strong competitive candidates for higher office. Thus, a federal
constitutional structure that devolves substantial powers to autonomously elected local
governments can increase the chances for successful democratic development. Foreign
assistance can help to increase this vital supply of leaders with good reputations for spending
public funds responsibly if some share of foreign-assistance funding is distributed directly to
local governments and other local public service agencies.