Financial Governance of Local authorities: Challenges and Prospects in the Era of Advanced Regionalization

Abstract

Financial governance of local authorities is a cornerstone of advanced regionalization in Morocco, aimed at fostering transparent and accountable public management. While the role of supreme audit institutions is theoretically acknowledged, there is a gap in existing literature regarding the quantitative empirical assessment of their measured effect on Moroccan territorial financial governance. This study fills this theoretical void by analyzing how these control mechanisms impact local management performance. Following a quantitative approach, data were collected via a questionnaire from 113 stakeholders in territorial financial management. Scale reliability was validated by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.703 and a Principal Component Analysis (KMO = 71.7%). Findings reveal a positive and highly significant relationship between control institutions' actions and improved financial governance (r ranging from 0.277 to 0.981; p < 0.01). Regression analysis shows that institutional involvement explains 23.6% of the variance in governance success (R² = 0.236), while management control tools significantly facilitate audit missions (R² = 0.969). Ultimately, the study demonstrates that strengthening external oversight and modernizing accounting tools are inseparable levers for consolidating transparency and efficiency in local public policies in Morocco.

JEL Classification: H83

Paper type: Empirical Research