Drawbacks in the existing structure:
- Lack of coordination: The existing structure of federalism in many countries often leads to a lack of coordination between the central and state governments. This can result in inefficiencies, duplication of efforts, and delays in decision-making.
- Power concentration: In some cases, the central government holds a significant amount of power, which can lead to a lack of autonomy for the state governments. This can hinder their ability to address local issues effectively.
- Financial dependency: Many state governments are heavily dependent on the central government for financial resources. This dependency can limit their ability to implement policies and programs that are locally relevant and responsive to the needs of their citizens.
- Inequitable distribution of resources: The existing structure may not always ensure a fair and equitable distribution of resources between the central and state governments. This can lead to disparities in development and hinder the progress of certain regions.
- Lack of flexibility: The rigid division of powers between the central and state governments can sometimes hinder effective governance. It may not allow for the necessary flexibility to address emerging challenges and changing needs.

Extent to which cooperative federalism would answer the shortcomings:
- Enhanced coordination: Cooperative federalism emphasizes collaboration and coordination between different levels of government. This would help address the lack of coordination in the existing structure and promote efficient decision-making.
- Balanced power-sharing: Cooperative federalism promotes a more balanced power-sharing arrangement between the central and state governments. This would ensure greater autonomy for state governments and enable them to address local issues more effectively.
- Financial empowerment: Cooperative federalism encourages a more equitable distribution of financial resources between the central and state governments. This would reduce the dependency of state governments on the central government and enable them to implement policies that are locally relevant.
- Responsive governance: Cooperative federalism allows for greater flexibility in addressing local issues and adapting to changing needs. This would enable governments to respond more effectively to emerging challenges and promote responsive governance.
- Strengthened regional development: Cooperative federalism promotes a more equitable distribution of resources, which would help bridge regional disparities and promote balanced regional development.

In conclusion, cooperative federalism offers several advantages over the existing structure of federalism. It promotes coordination, balanced power-sharing, financial empowerment, responsive governance, and strengthened regional development. By addressing the drawbacks in the existing structure, cooperative federalism can contribute to more effective and efficient governance.