INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS ON LOCAL ECONOMIES AND FISCAL SPACES

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Local Development Finance Practice is a center for innovative research that supports local governments and economies. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the help of a team, UNCDF sought to understand how local economies and fiscal spaces are impacted by digital platforms. The team conducted research in Kumasi, Ghana and Chandpur, Bangladesh to assess the impact of digital platforms on local fiscal spaces. It also investigated the potential of different impact models and revenue structures to stimulate revenue generation, intergovernmental transfers, and local economic activity in three sectors: tourism and hospitality, urban transportation, and the delivery of goods and services. The team distilled its findings into a final report that will contribute to UNCDF’s future initiatives to rebuild local fiscal spaces.