The Determinants and Efficiency of Local Authority Spending in England

This paper analyzes the efficiency and determinants of local authority expenditure in England during 1989/90. The capitalization of local spending in house prices is used as a test of efficiency, and it is found that local services are in general excessive from this standpoint. The determinants of l...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gordon, James
Other Authors: Bayoumi, Tamim
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. International Monetary Fund 1991
Series:IMF Working Papers
Online Access:
Collection: International Monetary Fund - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
Description
Summary:This paper analyzes the efficiency and determinants of local authority expenditure in England during 1989/90. The capitalization of local spending in house prices is used as a test of efficiency, and it is found that local services are in general excessive from this standpoint. The determinants of local government spending are then estimated and local incomes, the tax price faced by the electorate, and local party control are found to be significant. Application of the analysis to the recently introduced local government reforms suggest small effects on the overall level of spending
Physical Description:34 pages
ISBN:9781451927108