In Mexico and the Philippines decentralization of education has improved outcomes. Many countries are having difficulties with decentralization. Zambia is typical of a number of African countries where responsibilities where devolved on paper only. There is a costly local bureaucracy which has neither the means nor the mandate to accomplish anything significant. In Brazil and Russia decentralization was poorly sequenced and has been at the root of serious fiscal imbalances.
Cities usually contribute to improved living standards.
However in many cities, poverty is rising, and living standards are declining. To reverse this and return to earlier trends, cities need to improve governance, services, and appropriate regulation, for example, of land use. Urban sprawl plagues cities in both developing and industrial countries, and it worsens with motorization-the increased reliance on private automobiles and trucks. A worldwide trend of employment decentralization and the emergence of multiple employment centers in large metropolitan areas are contributing to increased motorization and the weakening of transit systems. The best ways to contain urban sprawl is through integrated land use and transportation planning.