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Usage of Specialized Service Delivery: Evidence from Contiguous Counties

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  • Christopher B Goodman

Abstract

This study exploits exogenous policy discontinuities along state borders to estimate the influence of differences in local autonomy on the usage of special districts in U.S. counties. Using forty years of data, this analysis compares counties on either side of state borders where local autonomy differs and finds little to no evidence that negative changes in local autonomy lead to increased utilization of special districts. This study suggests that some prior literature may overstate the importance of local autonomy in local service delivery.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher B Goodman, 2018. "Usage of Specialized Service Delivery: Evidence from Contiguous Counties," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 48(4), pages 686-708.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:publus:v:48:y:2018:i:4:p:686-708.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/publius/pjx065
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    1. Skip Krueger & Ethan M. Bernick, 2010. "State Rules and Local Governance Choices," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 40(4), pages 697-718, Fall.
    2. Dagney Faulk & Larita Killian, 2017. "Special Districts and Local Government Debt: An Analysis of “Old Northwest Territory” States," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 112-134, March.
    3. Charles M. Tiebout, 1956. "A Pure Theory of Local Expenditures," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 64(5), pages 416-416.
    4. George W. Hammond & Mehmet S. Tosun, 2011. "The Impact Of Local Decentralization On Economic Growth: Evidence From U.S. Counties," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 47-64, February.
    5. Yu Shi, 2017. "The Rise of Specialized Governance in American Federalism: Testing Links Between Local Government Autonomy and Formation of Special District Governments," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 47(1), pages 99-130.
    6. Bunch, Beverly S, 1991. "The Effect of Constitutional Debt Limits on Stage Governments' Use of Public Authorities," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 68(1-3), pages 57-69, January.
    7. Arindrajit Dube & T. William Lester & Michael Reich, 2010. "Minimum Wage Effects Across State Borders: Estimates Using Contiguous Counties," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 92(4), pages 945-964, November.
    8. Christopher Berry, 2008. "Piling On: Multilevel Government and the Fiscal Common‐Pool," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 52(4), pages 802-820, October.
    9. Christopher B. Goodman, 2015. "Local Government Fragmentation and the Local Public Sector," Public Finance Review, , vol. 43(1), pages 82-107, January.
    10. Jered B. Carr & Jayce Farmer, 0. "Contingent Effects of Municipal and County TELs on Special District Usage in the United States," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 41(4), pages 709-733.
    11. Stephen B. Billings & Deborah A. Carroll, 2012. "“Debrucing” the Link between Tax and Expenditure Limits and Special District Governments," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 273-303, June.
    12. Goodman, Christopher B & Leland, Suzanne M., 2017. "Do Cities and Counties Attempt to Circumvent Changes in their Autonomy by Creating Special Districts?," SocArXiv 3rd7v, Center for Open Science.
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    1. Goodman, Christopher B & Leland, Suzanne M., 2017. "Do Cities and Counties Attempt to Circumvent Changes in their Autonomy by Creating Special Districts?," SocArXiv 3rd7v, Center for Open Science.
    2. Goodman, Christopher B, 2018. "Jurisdictional Overlap & the Size of the Local Public Workforce," SocArXiv jc7yn, Center for Open Science.
    3. Goodman, Christopher B, 2019. "Patterns in Special District Creation and Dissolution," SocArXiv zwgjh, Center for Open Science.
    4. Austin M Aldag & Mildred E Warner & Yunji Kim, 2019. "Leviathan or Public Steward? Evidence on Local Government Taxing Behavior from New York State," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 49(4), pages 671-693.

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