A SCHOOL FOR DEMOCRATS Throughout this book serious shortcomings were noted in the function ing of local government in Mexico Yet in assessing their accomplish ments over the past twenty ve years there was scope for optimism Some innovations were sustained some functions of government were improved and some services became more ef cient or effective Particu larly where changes became embedded in routine activities and expecta tion as well as in bricks and mortar it could be expected that they would endure beyond the scope of particular administrations Moreover it might be anticipated that experiences with better governance could leave behind a legacy of expectations about the functioning of basic adminis tration and services