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Sticky decentralization? Evidence from the French school reform

Author

Listed:
  • Aurélie Cassette

    (LEM - CNRS (UMR 9221) – Université Lille 1)

  • Etienne Farvaque

    (LEM - CNRS (UMR 9221) – Université Lille 1)

Abstract

This paper studies the determinants of the decision for local politicians to go back from a nationally-defined but locally-enforced policy. Once implemented locally, does a reform sticks, or is it washed away as soon as can be? We use the quasi-natural experiment of the changes in the school week schedule in France to provide an answer to this question. Our results are based on a unique, detailed, database of local schoolweek schedules. They indicate that, even though the decentralized policy aims at improving welfare, the costs generated by the reform, as well as local preferences, determines the degree of stickiness of the reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Aurélie Cassette & Etienne Farvaque, 2019. "Sticky decentralization? Evidence from the French school reform," Economics Working Paper from Condorcet Center for political Economy at CREM-CNRS 2019-03-ccr, Condorcet Center for political Economy.
    • Handle: RePEc:tut:cccrwp:2019-03-ccr
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Decentralization; Reforms; Municipalities; Education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • I29 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Other

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