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Agglomeration, Population Size, and the Cost of Providing Public Services: An Empirical Analysis for German States

Author

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  • Stegarescu, Dan
  • Schwager, Robert
  • Büttner, Thiess

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the question as to what extent population size and density affect the cost of providing public services at the subnational level. Empirical estimates of cost functions are obtained from an analysis of the expenditures of German states disaggregated into about 40 functions of government. The empirical results indicate that generally there is no significant relationship between population density and the cost of public goods. At the same time, cost are almost proportionately related to population size indicating that goods and services provided by the German states display only a limited degree of publicness.

Suggested Citation

  • Stegarescu, Dan & Schwager, Robert & Büttner, Thiess, 2004. "Agglomeration, Population Size, and the Cost of Providing Public Services: An Empirical Analysis for German States," ZEW Discussion Papers 04-18, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:2028
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    1. Alexander Eck & Carolin Fritzsche & Jan Kluge & Joachim Ragnitz & Felix Rösel, 2015. "Fiscal Capacity and Determining Structural Characteristics of the Eastern German Laender," ifo Dresden Studien, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 76, May.
    2. Fahey, Tony & Russell, Helen & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Childcare," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    3. Kellermann, Kersten, 2007. "Fiscal competition and a potential growth effect of centralization," KOFL Working Papers 4, Konjunkturforschungsstelle Liechtenstein (KOFL), Vaduz.
    4. Massimiliano Ferraresi & Umberto Galmarini & Leonzio Rizzo, 2014. "Local Infrastructures and Externalities: Does the Size Matter?," Working papers 14, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    5. T. Gries & M. Redlin, 2011. "International integration and the determinants of regional development in China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 149-177, April.
    6. Xenia Frei & Joachim Ragnitz & Felix Rösel, 2018. "Kosten kommunaler Leistungserstellung unter dem Einfluss von demografischem Wandel und Urbanisierung," ifo Dresden Studien, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 80, May.
    7. Morgenroth, Edgar, 2014. "The Regional Development Impacts of Transport Infrastructure: A Literature Review and Policy Implications," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT278.
    8. O'Connell, Philip J. & Russell, Helen & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Human Resources," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    9. Fahey, Tony & Scott, Susan & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Sports and Arts," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    10. Morgenroth, Edgar & FitzGerald, John (ed.), 2006. "Ex-ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number PRS59.
    11. Morgenroth, Edgar, 2018. "Prospects for Irish Regions and Counties: Scenarios and Implications," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS70.
    12. Yuxi Liu & Rizhao Gong & Wenzhong Ye & Changsheng Jin & Jianxin Tang, 2022. "Urban Spatial Structure and Water Ecological Footprint: Empirical Analysis of the Urban Agglomerations in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.
    13. Tate, Robert & Finlayson, Greg & MacWilliam, Leonard & Wiley, Miriam M. & Morgenroth, Edgar & FitzGerald, John, 2006. "Health," Book Chapters, in: Morgenroth, Edgar (ed.),Ex-Ante Evaluation of the Investment Priorities for the National Development Plan 2007-2013, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    14. Jonathan Old & Felix Rösel, 2018. "Sparprojekt oder Milchmädchenrechnung? Die finanziellen Effekte eines Bundeslandes„Mitteldeutschland“," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 25(02), pages 12-17, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    agglomeration; cost of public services; local public goods;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects
    • H72 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Budget and Expenditures
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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