This an Open access book. It provides a comparative and multidisciplinary analysis of how local governments perform their tasks and how these are financed. The volume stands out with three essential features. First, the comparative research reflected in the volume has a global geographical scope because it is the outcome of a Horizon 2020 project involving 18 partners from six continents. Therefore, it includes highly topical and so far under-researched case studies beyond just the European continent. Secondly, we look at the above-mentioned topics from a timely urban-rural perspective, as the ultimate aim is to explore the impact of the phenomenon of urbanisation on local governments and the response of urban and rural municipalities. Thirdly, the book focuses within broader research on municipal tasks and finances on several specific topics that have been revealed by our project as particularly relevant. These are public transport policies of urban and rural local governments, different ways of public service provision like PPP and public enterprises, financial equalization between urban and rural municipalities, as well as special fees as alternative sources of local revenue.