Tokyo in Japan is an interesting example of good urban governance. Regarding economic activities, urban area of Tokyo is the world largest metropolitan areas with $ 2 trillion economic output. Tokyo is managed by metropolitan government upon which local government of Tokyo has locally independent authority. It is responsible for providing social welfare, presenting public education and health, and urban planning. Tokyo Metropolitan Government has two main bodies. Legislative body of Tokyo metropolitan government is called city council.
The issue of good urban governance is on agenda in developing countries. Numerous initiatives have been taken to strengthen local governments and improve municipal services in India. Enactment a set of rules, implementation of several urban development plans, and adoption of innovative practices in urban management may be the most crucial ones.
There is a variety of typologies of municipality and urban management in India because of its exclusive features and urban areas. Although local governments have common goals and relatively identical features, they use constitutional law in their territory.
In china, most local revenues are earned via shared taxes, and non-tax revenues. Accountability of central government for municipal finance is remarkable in China. This helped provincial-local governments to present public services with least financial concern. Delegating more responsibilities with financial resources to local governments and municipalities are some of the main policies of China’s central government. This confirms the fact that local authorities present local services more efficiently compared to the national level.
Reviewing these experiences indicates that cities and countries follow good governance model given their historical, geographical, cultural, and social conditions. In Iranian setting, this issue is followed by cities, especially metropolises. However urban governance faces serious challenges because of lack of integrated urban management approach and the multiplicity of urban authorities, Tehran has taken important steps during last decade to institutionalize good urban governance model. Focusing on the issue of citizens’ participation and promoting social capital have been prominent features of Tehran’s urban management in last decade. Undoubtedly, there is a long way to achieve good urban governance.
Seyyed Mohsen Tabatabaei Mozdabadi is the secretary of Iran Urban Economics Scientific Association.