Are local public services better delivered in more autonomous regions? Evidence from European regions using a dose-response approach

Filippetti, Andrea and Cerulli, Giovanni (2018) Are local public services better delivered in more autonomous regions? Evidence from European regions using a dose-response approach. Papers in Regional Science, 97 (3). pp. 801-826. ISSN 1056-8190

Text (Are local public services better delivered in more autonomous regions?) - Accepted Version Download (1MB)

• Scopus publication

Abstract

Does regional autonomy lead to better local public services? We investigate this issue using measures of public service performance and autonomy at the region level in 171 European regions. We introduce a novel dose-response approach which identifies the pattern of the effect of regional autonomy on the performance of public services. The relationship between the level of regional autonomy and the provision of local public services exhibits a u-shape: both low and high autonomy lead to better local public services. This speaks against the presence of one optimal level of autonomy and policy recommendations based on the view that more decentralisation is always desirable. It shows that different institutional settings can be economically viable and efficient.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2017 The Authors. Papers in Regional Science © 2017 RSAI
Divisions:	Geography & Environment
Subjects:	J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
JEL classification:	P - Economic Systems > P4 - Other Economic Systems > P48 - Political Economy; Legal Institutions; Property Rights R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R1 - General Regional Economics > R10 - General R - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics > R5 - Regional Government Analysis > R50 - General H - Public Economics > H7 - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations > H70 - General
Date Deposited:	09 May 2019 10:24
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 01:45
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/100770

Actions (login required)

View Item