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Effects of amalgamations: evidence from Swiss municipalities

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  • Reto Steiner
  • Claire Kaiser

Abstract

Many OECD countries have amalgamated their municipalities during the last couple of decades. For decisions concerning future territorial rescaling, it is crucial to augment the previously inconclusive evaluative knowledge of the effects of mergers. This paper examines the effects of amalgamations conducted between 1998 and 2009 in the areas of public service delivery, local finance, administrative staff, municipal autonomy and local democracy. The data are obtained from two comprehensive surveys of all local secretaries (top civil servants) in Switzerland in 1998 and 2009. The analysis – based upon a comparison between a quasi-experimental and a control group – (partially) supports the hypothesis of a positive effect on public service delivery, the professionalization of staff and municipal autonomy. The effect on local finance is inconclusive, and negative effects on local democracy are not discovered in the framework of this study.

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  • Reto Steiner & Claire Kaiser, 2017. "Effects of amalgamations: evidence from Swiss municipalities," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 232-252, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpxmxx:v:19:y:2017:i:2:p:232-252
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2016.1153704
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Paladini, 2020. "La partecipazione dei cittadini nei processi di fusione di comuni in veneto: un?occasione mancata?," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(3), pages 105-128.
    2. Gerard Turley & John McDonagh & Stephen McNena & Arkadiusz Grzedzinski, 2018. "Optimum Territorial Reforms in Local Government: An Empirical Analysis of Scale Economies in Ireland," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 49(4), pages 463-488.
    3. Masayoshi Hayashi & Takafumi Suzuki, 2018. "Municipal Mergers and Capitalization: Evaluating the Heisei Territorial Reform in Japan," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1105, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    4. Blesse Sebastian & Rösel Felix, 2017. "Was bringen kommunale Gebietsreformen?: Kausale Evidenz zu Hoffnungen, Risiken und alternativen Instrumenten," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 18(4), pages 307-324, November.
    5. Tavares Antonio F., 2018. "Municipal amalgamations and their effects: a literature review," Miscellanea Geographica. Regional Studies on Development, Sciendo, vol. 22(1), pages 5-15, March.
    6. Koukal, Anna Maria & Schafer, Patricia & Eichenberger, Reiner, 2021. "Enfranchising non-citizens: What drives natives’ willingness to share power?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 1088-1108.
    7. Bram Faber & Tjerk Budding & Raymond (R.H.J.M.) Gradus, 2019. "Keeping In Touch With Citizens Online: Social Media Usage In Dutch Local Government," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 19-001/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.

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