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Does decentralisation theorem shape intermunicipal cooperation?

Author

Listed:
  • Quentin Frère
  • Lionel Védrine

    (CESAER - Centre d'Economie et de Sociologie Rurales Appliquées à l'Agriculture et aux Espaces Ruraux - AgroSup Dijon - Institut National Supérieur des Sciences Agronomiques, de l'Alimentation et de l'Environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Territoires - Territoires - AgroParisTech - VAS - VetAgro Sup - Institut national d'enseignement supérieur et de recherche en alimentation, santé animale, sciences agronomiques et de l'environnement - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement - UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne)

Abstract

This paper proposes a theoretical model of voluntary intermunicipal cooperation and empirically tests its assertions through the French municipalities' choices of transferring their competences to the intermunicipal level. Using an original threshold models inference procedure, a probit model is estimated on shared competences. Two main results arise. Contrary to the decentralisation theorem prediction, citizens' preference heterogeneity does not hinder local cooperation, but fiscal potential heterogeneity does. Moreover, a zoo effect is at stake for some competences, for which a significant threshold effect in their transfer probability is identified.

Suggested Citation

  • Quentin Frère & Lionel Védrine, 2024. "Does decentralisation theorem shape intermunicipal cooperation?," Post-Print hal-04739942, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04739942
    DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2023.2282139
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04739942v1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    H1 R5 H4 H73 H77 intermunicipal cooperation decentralisation theorem economies of scale zoo effect threshold regression model; H1; R5; H4; H73; H77 intermunicipal cooperation; decentralisation theorem; economies of scale; zoo effect; threshold regression model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • R5 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism
    • H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • R5 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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