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The range of local public services and population size: Is there a “zoo effect” in French jurisdictions?

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  • Quentin Frère
  • Hakim Hammadou
  • Sonia Paty

Abstract

This article contributes to the small literature on the relationship between the range of local public services and population size. Using new data on French local jurisdictions, we test the hypothesis that larger jurisdictions provide a broader range of public goods (the so-called ?zoo effect?, Oates (1988)). We take advantage of the fact that, in France, many municipalities recently joined together, forming groups of municipalities (or communities) in order to achieve economies of scale. Using spatial econometrics, we find some evidence for the existence of a zoo effect in French communities. In other terms, larger communities provide a broader range of services than smaller ones. The intensity of the zoo effect is higher in urban than in rural areas. JEL classification: H4, H7

Suggested Citation

  • Quentin Frère & Hakim Hammadou & Sonia Paty, 2011. "The range of local public services and population size: Is there a “zoo effect” in French jurisdictions?," Recherches économiques de Louvain, De Boeck Université, vol. 77(2), pages 87-104.
    • Handle: RePEc:cai:reldbu:rel_772_0087
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    4. Brueckner, Jan K. & Saavedra, Luz A., 2001. "Do Local Governments Engage in Strategic Property-Tax Competition?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 54(2), pages 203-230, June.
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    6. Matthieu Leprince & Alain Guengant, 2002. "Interactions fiscales verticales et réaction des communes à la coopération intercommunale," Revue Économique, Programme National Persée, vol. 53(3), pages 525-535.
    7. Oates, Wallace E., 1988. "On the measurement of congestion in the provision of local public goods," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 85-94, July.
    8. Robert Breunig & Yvon Rocaboy, 2008. "Per-capita public expenditures and population size: a non-parametric analysis using French data," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 429-445, September.
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    11. Anselin, Luc, 1988. "A test for spatial autocorrelation in seemingly unrelated regressions," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 335-341.
    12. Luz Amparo Saavedra, 2000. "Do Local Governments Engage In Strategic Property- Tax Competition," Borradores de Economia 2378, Banco de la Republica.
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    Cited by:

    1. Germà Bel & Marianna Sebo, 2020. "Introducing and enhancing competition to improve solid waste management in Barcelona," IREA Working Papers 202004, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Apr 2020.
    2. Quentin Frère & Matthieu Leprince & Sonia Paty, 2014. "The Impact of Intermunicipal Cooperation on Local Public Spending," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(8), pages 1741-1760, June.
    3. Quentin Frère & Lionel Védrine, 2017. "Does the decentralisation theorem apply to the French local governments? An empirical test on intermunicipal competences," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 497-498, pages 43-64.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    local public services; population size; zoo effect; French jurisdictions; communities; spatial econometrics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations

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