The Institute of Public Finance has launched the project Fiscal decentralization in Croatia – current state, challenges, and potential solutions (FISDEC), funded under the Installation Research Projects of the Croatian Science Foundation (CSF). The project is led by Branko Stanić, Research Associate at the Institute.

The project focuses on a comprehensive analysis of fiscal decentralization in Croatia and its impact on the functioning of local government units, local economic development, the efficiency of public service provision, income inequality, and fiscal sustainability. The research covers all Croatian municipalities and cities, and, where relevant, counties, with particular emphasis on the role of fiscal autonomy and fiscal transfers in shaping regional development disparities.

It is based on modern quantitative, econometric, and spatial methods and adopts an interdisciplinary approach integrating economics, geography, political science, public administration, and sociology. 

The research results will be consolidated into a unique, publicly accessible database and will contribute to scientific and public debate by providing empirically grounded insights into fiscal decentralization, local fiscal autonomy, and regional inequalities in Croatia.