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The Welfare Consequences of Centralization: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in Switzerland

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  • Sarah Flèche

    (CNRS—Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne, University Paris 1, and CEP, London School of Economics)

Abstract

Many countries are reallocating tasks and powers to more central levels of government. To identify centralization's welfare effects, I use a difference-in-differences design that relies on time and cross-cantonal variations in the implementation of centralization reforms in Switzerland. I find that centralization provokes significant decreases in residents' life satisfaction. I identify one mechanism driving the effect: the procedural disutility that individuals experience from having less influence over the formulation of political decisions. This effect is largest among individuals with higher expected benefits from being involved in the political decision process, with detrimental effects on local political participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah Flèche, 2021. "The Welfare Consequences of Centralization: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in Switzerland," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(4), pages 621-635, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:4:p:621-635
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00894
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    Cited by:

    1. Kong, Dongmin & Liu, Chenhao, 2024. "Centralization and regulatory enforcement: Evidence from personnel authority reform in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    2. Gabriel Loumeau & Christian Stettler, 2021. "Fiscal Autonomy and Self-Determination," CESifo Working Paper Series 9445, CESifo.

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