Abstract:In this paper, we investigate the spatial variations in the operational expenditures of US county governments using a novel method: the bivariate penalized spline estimation over triangulation (BPST) method. We find that the costs of providing population- and health-related services are spatially non-stationary and are affected by local characteristics, like governance structure, natural amenities, and rural-urban status. In general, county operational expenditures are higher in rural counties with more govern… Show more
Set email alert for when this publication receives citations?
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.