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Population size and the size of government

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  • Krieger, Tim
  • Meierrieks, Daniel

Abstract

We examine the effect of population size on government size for a panel of 130 countries for the period between 1970 and 2014. We show that previous analyses of the nexus between population size and government size are incorrectly specified and fail to consider the influence of cross-sectional dependence, non-stationarity and cointegration. Using a panel time-series approach that adequately accounts for these issues, we find that population size has a positive long-run effect on government size. This finding suggests that effects of population size that increase government size (primarily due to the costs of heterogeneity, congestion, crime and conflict) dominate effects that reduce government size (primarily due to scale economies).

Suggested Citation

  • Krieger, Tim & Meierrieks, Daniel, 2020. "Population size and the size of government," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:61:y:2020:i:c:s0176268019304859
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2019.101837
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    2. Kevin Williams, 2021. "Does national income mediate the relationship between trade and government size?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 61(6), pages 3029-3057, December.
    3. Abel François & Nicolas Lagios & Pierre-Guillaume Méon, 2023. "Jurisdiction size and perceived corruption," Working Papers CEB 23-003, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    4. Bruno Emmanuel Ongo Nkoa & Djondandi Wangbara & Gautier Tchoffo Tameko, 2024. "Efficiency of local public spending in Cameroon: Does population size matter?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 36(2), pages 362-376, June.
    5. Fiorini, Luciana C. & Jetter, Michael & Parmeter, Christopher F. & Parsons, Christopher, 2020. "The Effect of Community Size on Electoral Preferences: Evidence From Post-WWII Southern Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 13724, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Government size; Population size; Non-stationarity; Cross-sectional dependence; Panel cointegration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General

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