Suchergebnisse

THE DETERIORATION OF THE SUPPLY OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE ACCELERATING. THE REASON MOST OFTEN CITED FOR THE INCREASING RATES OF DETERIORATION IS THE LACK OF AVAILABLE FUNDING, OR FISCAL STRESS, PRESENT IN MANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. A POPULAR SHORT-TERM SOLUTION TO FISCAL STRESS IS TO DEFER INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS AND/OR REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IN RURAL AREAS WHERE A DECLINING AGRICULTURAL BASE AND REDIRECTED FEDERAL POLICY HAVE PLACED SIGNIFICANT DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON REVENUES. THE SEARCH FOR A LONGTERM SOLUTION HAS RENEWED THE DEBATE ABOUT THE OPTIMAL SIZE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE RESEARCH REPORTED HERE EXAMINES THE ISSUE OF SIZE EFFICIENCY IN THE PRODUCTION OF LOW-VOLUME RURAL ROADS IN THE MIDWEST. AT ISSUE IS THE ABILITY OF MIDWEST TOWNSHIPS TO REALIZE SIZE ECONOMIES. OVERALL, SIZE INEFFICIENCIES WERE IDENTIFIED WHICH SUGGESTS THAT COST SAVINGS MAY BE REALIZED FROM THE REORGANIZATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF LOW-VOLUME ROAD SERVICES.

IN A RECENT PAPER, SANTERRE (1986) SET OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE OVERALL RELATIVE PERFORMANCE BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVE AND DIRECT FORMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY STUDYING HOW THE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE CAPITALIZE ON THE AVERAGE PER ACRE PRICE OF LAND WITHIN A TIEBOUT WORLD. HIS HYPOTHESIS IS THAT VOTERS PREFER TO LOCATE IN A DIRECT DEMOCRACY, OPPOSED TO A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY BECAUSE OF MORE VOTER CONTROL. OPERATING ON THESE PREFERENCES. VOTERS DRIVE PROPERTY VALUES HIGHER WITHIN THE JURISDICTION GOVERNED BY DIRECT DEMOCRACY. HOWEVER, CLOSER EXAMINATION OF HIS UNDERLYING THEORY CASTS SERIOUS DOUBT ON BOTH HIS MODEL AND EMPIRICAL CONCLUSIONS. THIS NOTE WILL ATTEMPT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT SANTERRE HAS MERGED TWO THEORETICAL MODELS THAT ARE INHERENTLY NOT COMPATIBLE.