This study aims to explore proposals derived from two approaches of an economic inspiration pertaining to the distribution of decision-making authority for public policy-making and implementation in federative governmental systems. The methodological approach was a bibliographical review based on key conceptual references for each of the above approaches - both that focusing on horizontal bargaining between local entities and that prescribing the construction of vertical incentives by the national sphere - implying concentration of decision-making authority in one of the poles in federative bargaining, in the face of which the author proposes overall parameters and requirements to be incorporated into an agenda focused on the construction of institutions for federative coordination.