THE LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPACT ON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Abstract 
Local development is an important factor for one country development. There are different actors and factors involved in the local 
development process as institutional and governance capacity, social capital, local entrepreneurship, civil society development, academic 
development, research and innovation actors etc.On the other hand, local democracy is now days considered as, even more, an important 
premise for local development in our region’s cities, as the increase of community representation, public and civil rights, aiming at 
“community governance”.It is acknowledged that there is a need for 'participatory democracy and responsive local government': the two 
are mutually reinforcing and supportive - strong, aware, responsible, active and engaged citizens along with strong, caring, inclusive, 
listening, open and responsive local democratic governance. Local development can be strongly impacted by local governance, which is 
now days having a reinforced meaning, and it means for sure more than just local government. Steering and leading, influencing local 
development is involving “a participatory democracy” of other local actors and factors as well and a responsive governing. For that, 
decentralized governance is effectively strengthened and rendered more accountable when participation is encouraged, facilitated and 
institutionalized. Communities, neighborhoods and individuals, as well as government, can play a crucial role in ensuring that local 
governance efficiency and fostering of local development. In this paper we will explore the decentralization reform progress in Albania and 
in the other neighbor countries, where regulatory and legislative reform is a strong basis of it. We will explore, the impact of regulatory and 
legislative process and reforms have in relation to social and local capacity development, as well as economic development and 
incentives in local markets, human capital, social development etc. We will offer a comparative view on the outputs,- through performance 
indicators of different sectors- the regulatory and legislative reform has had in different sectors of: a. public services; b. private markets; c. 
social and local capital; d. local democracy; e. local governance, as premises for local development. On this basis, we can see how the 
“law”, its instruments and legislative process, affect on the administration and the development of local sectors.A cross-comparative 
approach on legislative reform of decentralization will be used by referring to a regional background-so, by identifying specificities of 
systems and progress indicators of local development in different countries of the Balkan region. While, we will use a research approach 
on practical of examples, case studies, which will be identified from local experience, practical cases from Albania will be presented.The 
conclusive approach of our paper will be by giving recommendations on which are the aspects, where the legislative reform could bring 
much more impact and incentives for local development etc.