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Reevaluating the Effect of Tax and Expenditure Limitations

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  • Rui Sun

Abstract

This article evaluates the effect of tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) on municipal general own-source revenue in the United States. Using an instrumental variable approach, this study addresses the endogeneity problem of TELs that has been largely overlooked in previous research. Data are collected on 724 US cities with populations of at least 25,000 from 1970 to 2006. Results indicate that when the endogeneity of TELs is taken into account, TELs lead to considerable reductions in property taxes but substantial increases in sales taxes, income taxes, and user charges per capita. The increases in the latter forms of revenue not only offset the loss in property taxes but also generate a supplemental revenue effect, resulting in a net gain of total municipal general own-source revenue per capita. The study provides important policy implications and suggests that TELs may have unintended consequences and lead to bigger government.

Suggested Citation

  • Rui Sun, 2014. "Reevaluating the Effect of Tax and Expenditure Limitations," Public Finance Review, , vol. 42(1), pages 92-116, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:pubfin:v:42:y:2014:i:1:p:92-116
    DOI: 10.1177/1091142112459210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ronald J. Shadbegian, 1998. "Do Tax and Expenditure Limitations Affect Local Government Budgets? Evidence From Panel Data," Public Finance Review, , vol. 26(2), pages 118-136, March.
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    3. Skidmore, Mark, 1999. "Tax and Expenditure Limitations and the Fiscal Relationships between State and Local Governments," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 99(1-2), pages 77-102, April.
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    5. Dye, Richard F. & McGuire, Therese J., 1997. "The effect of property tax limitation measures on local government fiscal behavior," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 469-487, December.
    6. Dye, Richard F. & McGuire, Therese J. & McMillen, Daniel P., 2005. "Are Property Tax Limitations More Binding Over Time?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 58(2), pages 215-225, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Justin M. Ross & Madeline Farrell & Lang Kate Yang, 2015. "Indiana's Property Tax Caps: Old Idea, New Approach, and Surprising Incentives," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(4), pages 18-41, December.
    2. Matthew Walshe, 2019. "Does Local Government Autonomy Promote Fiscal Sustainability? Lessons from Illinois," IMFG Papers 42, University of Toronto, Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance.
    3. Pengju Zhang, 2018. "The unintended impact of tax and expenditure limitations on the use of special districts: the politics of circumvention," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 21-50, February.

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