Managing relations between different levels of government is a necessity,
since almost all countries are decentralised to one degree or another. In a
time of economic crisis, it is crucial that these different levels of government
work together effectively, as governments are having to do more, including
implementing stimulus packages, with less. In OECD countries, sub-national
authorities are responsible for an average of 60% of public investment, yet
the finances of many sub-national authorities are severely strained.