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„Kosten der Kleinheit” und die Föderalismusdebatte in der Schweiz

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  • Kersten Kellermann

Abstract

This article discusses the smallness of subsidiary jurisdictions as a third dimension of centrality, besides vertical centrality and fragmentation (horizontal centrality). A panel analysis concerning all 26 Swiss cantons (from 1990 to 2003) shows that public expenditure per capita increases with the number of inhabitants of a canton. This holds for the aggregate expenditure level and for six expenditure categories of the Government Finance Statistics. The positive elasticity of per capita expenditure with respect to population size can be understood as an indicator for increasing government failure in jurisdictions with bigger population size.

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  • Kersten Kellermann, 2008. "„Kosten der Kleinheit” und die Föderalismusdebatte in der Schweiz," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 9(2), pages 196-225, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:perwir:v:9:y:2008:i:2:p:196-225
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2516.2008.00269.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Brunhart, Andreas, 2019. "Liechtensteins Gemeinde- und Landesfinanzen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Steuerwettbewerb und Gemeindeautonomie," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 103-133.
    2. Hans Pitlik & Christina Seyfried, 2016. "Steuerautonomie der Schweizer Kantone: Vorbild für Österreich?," WIFO Monatsberichte (monthly reports), WIFO, vol. 89(6), pages 423-435, June.
    3. Kellermann, Kersten & Schlag, Carsten-Henning, 2012. "Small, Smart, Special: Der Mikrostaat Liechtenstein und sein Budget," KOFL Working Papers 13, Konjunkturforschungsstelle Liechtenstein (KOFL), Vaduz.

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