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Is Local Financial Health Associated with Citizens’ Quality of Life?

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  • Beatriz Cuadrado-Ballesteros
  • Noemí Mordán
  • Isabel-María García-Sánchez

Abstract

Few studies have analysed the results of public management in terms of social welfare. However, the financial health of local governments is in decline, which means that they are no longer able to provide public services that require financial obligations. This generally results in a reduction in the quality/quantity of public services provided by local governments, thus affecting citizens’ quality of life, since the most important welfare needs are usually related to public services. This study is an original approach to understanding the importance of the financial health of local governments in relation to social welfare. We selected a sample composed of 76 Spanish cities for the period 2008–2010. The results show that citizens who live in municipalities with good financial health have a higher quality of life than others. In general, citizens from municipalities governed by right-wing parties with low political competition tend to have higher levels of quality of life. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Beatriz Cuadrado-Ballesteros & Noemí Mordán & Isabel-María García-Sánchez, 2014. "Is Local Financial Health Associated with Citizens’ Quality of Life?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 559-580, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:119:y:2014:i:2:p:559-580
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-013-0533-2
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    2. Mariusz Malinowski, 2022. "Financial Situation of Local Government Units as a Determinant of the Standards of Living for the Polish Population," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-24, July.
    3. Giovanna Lucianelli & Francesca Citro & Serena Santis & Alfredo Ettore Tranfaglia & Andrea Mazzillo, 2017. "How to Improve the Financial Conditions of Local Governments in a Period of Crisis: An Explanatory Case Study," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(1), pages 1-53, December.
    4. Khalid Zaman & Aqeel Ahmad & Tengku Adeline Adura Tengku Hamzah & Mariney Mohd Yusoff, 2016. "Environmental Factors Affecting Health Indicators in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Health is Wealth," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 215-228, October.

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