000			01451nam a2200157 4500
999			_c510103 _d510103
008			190724b ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aMughan, Sian _97321
245			_aWhen do municipal consolidations reduce government expenditures?: evidence on the role of local involvement
260			_c2019
300			_ap.180-192.
520			_aHigher levels of government motivate municipal consolidations as a tool to increase efficiency in the local government sector, yet research shows that consolidations typically fail to deliver the promised spending reductions. Since mergers often require significant changes to institutional structures, one explanation is that local decision makers can substantially influence the outcomes of the consolidation process. To explore this possibility, this article contrasts “encouraged but voluntary” mergers with those that were “forced” on local governments in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Results show that voluntary mergers resulted in a 10 percent decline in total per capita expenditures, but forced consolidations failed to reduce spending across the board. The policy conclusion is that decision makers considering structural reform should invest in obtaining the support and participation of local government decision makers. - Reproduced.
650			_aExpenditure, government _97322
773			_aPublic Administration Review
906			_aLocal government
942			_2ddc _cAR