THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CENTRALIZATION AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY-
In: Public choice, Band 81, Heft 1, S. 151-190
ISSN: 0048-5829
SINCE 1972, THE SHARE OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE IN TOTAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN MOST INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES. IN AN INTERNATIONAL CROSS-SECTION ANALYSIS, IT HAS A SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE SHARE OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING IN GDP. THE ACTORS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST I CENTRALIZATION ARE ANALYZED. THE DYNAMICS OF CENTRALIZATION ARE ATTRIBUTED TO A RESPONSE ASYMMETRY AND TWO THRESHOLDS. 'POPITZ' LAW' OF THE ATTRACTION OF THE LARGER BUDGET IS TESTED WITH RESPECT TO THE EC COMMISSION: HIGH-RANKING POLITICIANS COME MAINLY FROM THE SMALLER MEMBER STATES. THE VOTERS' ATTITUDES TOWARD EUROPEAN UNIFICATION ARE ANALYZED IN A POOLED REGRESSION.