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Does Urbanization Mean Bigger Governments?

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  • Michael Jetter
  • Christopher F. Parmeter

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce urbanization as an important driver of government size. Using panel data for 175 countries from 1960 to 2010, we find that there is a close link between urbanization and the size of the public sector, especially when looking at education, health care, and social issues. Various robustness checks confirm this finding. An analysis of state‐level public spending in Colombia and Germany confirms our hypothesis on the subnational level. On the microeconomic level, people in urban areas acknowledge that governments should take more responsibility, and they are more in favor of redistribution. This finding can help to explain the evolution of government size, and it can also predict the present and future needs of urbanizing areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Jetter & Christopher F. Parmeter, 2018. "Does Urbanization Mean Bigger Governments?," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 120(4), pages 1202-1228, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:120:y:2018:i:4:p:1202-1228
    DOI: 10.1111/sjoe.12256
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    Cited by:

    1. Jetter, Michael & Mösle, Saskia & Stadelmann, David, 2019. "Cursed by no coast: How regional landlockedness affects income within countries," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 70-73.
    2. Michael Jetter & Saskia Mösle & David Stadelmann, 2017. "Landlockedness and Economic Development: Analyzing Subnational Panel Data and Exploring Mechanisms," CESifo Working Paper Series 6733, CESifo.
    3. Fiorini, Luciana C. & Jetter, Michael & Parmeter, Christopher F. & Parsons, Christopher, 2020. "The Effect of Community Size on Electoral Preferences: Evidence From Post-WWII Southern Germany," IZA Discussion Papers 13724, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Lin Li & Kaixu Zhao & Xinyu Wang & Sidong Zhao & Xingguang Liu & Weiwei Li, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Mechanism of Urbanization in Small Cities: Case Study from Guangxi," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-34, March.
    5. Muhammad Zakaria & Wen Jun & Arooj Khan, 2023. "Effects Of Capital Inflows On Fiscal Balance In An Emerging Economy: Evidence From Pakistan," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 68(05), pages 1585-1598, September.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General
    • H50 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - General
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • R50 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - General

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