This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Fiskalische Effekte der Kommunalverfassungsreformen der 1990er Jahre in Deutschland

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Lorenz Blume () (Universitaet Kassel)
Thomas Doering () (Fachhochschule Kaernten)
Stefan Voigt () (Universitaet Marburg)

Additional information is available for the following registered author(s):

Abstract

Most German states changed their local constitutions during the 1990s in order to become more citizen-friendly. To reach that goal, many local constitutions now allow for the direct election of mayors, initiatives and referenda, and vote-aggregation as well as vote-splitting. Simultaneously, the five-percent threshold was abolished lowering entry barriers. This contribution asks whether these reforms had any effects on local fiscal policies. Based on the reforms that took place in Schleswig-Holstein, Bavaria and Hesse and drawing on a structural break test it is shown that the direct election of mayors has led to lower government spending. The introduction of direct democratic elements, on the other hand, has led to higher expenditures. The empirical results concerning direct democracy substantially deviate from the findings regarding both Switzerland and the U.S.. It is argued that the difference might be due to the lack of fiscal referenda in Germany.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.wiso-net.de/webcgi?START=A60&DOKV_DB=ZECO&DOKV_NO=JFNSJFNS2008070031715182820102118281&DOKV_HS=0&PP=1
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: Main text
Download Restriction: Access via GENIOS - German Business Information - http://www.genios.de/r_startseite/index.ein
File URL: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ecn&AN=1016306&site=ehost-live
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: Main text
Download Restriction: Access via EBSCOhost Econlit - http://www.ebscohost.com/

As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.

Publisher Info
Article provided by Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Department of Statistics and Economics in its journal Journal of Economics and Statistics.

Volume (Year): 228 (2008)
Issue (Month): 4 (August)
Pages: 317-344
Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Handle: RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:228:y:2008:i:4:p:317-344

Contact details of provider:
Web page: http://wiwi.uni-giessen.de/home/oekonometrie/Jahrbuecher/
More information through EDIRC

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Peter Winker).

Related research
Keywords: Reform of local constitutions; direct democracy; initiatives; referenda; direct elections of mayors; vote aggregation and splitting;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
H1 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government
K0 - Law and Economics - - General
R5 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Regional Government Analysis

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? You can use IDEAS to provide links to papers and articles in your course syllabus.

This page was last updated on 2009-12-8.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.