Economic influences on the structure of local government in U.S. metropolitan areas

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted to investigate the extent to which economic factors affect the number of local governments in major metropolitan areas. The purpose of the research was to challenge the assumption that the number of governments is externally derived from economic variables which affect the size of the public sector. Results directly illustrate that observed large differences in the number of local governments in the nation's metropolitan areas are due partly to residential variation in the demand for government service. There will be more, smaller local governments when variations among the citizenry in terms of desired government service increase, which a time series analysis, yet to be done, would indicate, and if so, how quickly this would come about.

Public Administration, State & Local Government, Local government

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Estimation of duration models using the Annual Housing Survey

Article Abstract:

The Annual Housing Survey (AHS) is structured in such a way that makes the standard methodologies of duration analysis difficult to apply. This difficulty was remedied by the development of a general likelihood function for estimating renters' average length of stay that considered the unique features of the AHS. This allowed the estimation of a duration model that used separate samples of renters and owners obtained from the AHS. Results supported the findings of Ioannides and Henderson's 1989 study regarding the relationships between household characteristics and mobility behavior. The study also found out that renters typically stay some 40% to 50% longer than what is generally believed.

Research, Usage, Measurement, Tenants, Residential mobility, Household surveys

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Local public goods and private suppliers: musical suburbs replayed

Article Abstract:

Private market suppliers operate at a profit in virtually every service area that the public sector competes in, indicating that local government services are inadequate. This situation is studied through theoretical models with findings suggesting that a kind of cycling process may result, initiated by wealthier households. These models can offer observable suggestions for policy makers, such as in the area of funding public schools, and in the area of capitalization studies.

Models, Public goods, Municipal services

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