The Impact of Population Density on Municipal Government Expenditures

Holcombe, Randall G.; Williams, DeEdgra W.

doi:10.1177/1091142107308302

Cited by 79 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In addition, little is often known about the characteristics of local authorities in a given local government system, such as the capacity of different kinds of local councils to reduce or at least constrain specific kinds of expenditure (see, e.g. Holcombe & Williams, ; Hortas‐Rico & Solé‐Ollé, ; Kushner & Ogwang, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Council type and the determinants of municipal expenditure: A semiparametric analysis of South Australian local government

Tran

Dollery

2019

Aust J Public Adm

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Despite the ongoing failure of ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ policies in the realm of local government policymaking worldwide, such as municipal mergers, public policymakers across Australian local government, including South Australia (SA), remain committed to uniform policy prescriptions that do not take into account the characteristics of different categories of local authorities. Furthermore, although a substantial body of empirical work exists on municipal expenditure, the vast bulk of research effort has been directed at (a) determining whether council size by population systematically affects average costs and (b) ascertaining whether scale economies exist in specific categories of municipal service provision, especially in waste collection and water services. However, this empirical literature has largely ignored the question of whether the characteristics of specific categories of municipality systematically affect outlays, especially non‐discretionary environmental factors. This paper seeks to address this gap in the literature by examining empirically how council type influences the determinants of municipal expenditure in SA. We find that there is a significant difference in per household expenditures between the different categories of SA local authorities in terms of the various types of municipal outlays. Moreover, environmental factors have a differential impact on the various kinds of per household expenditures of each category of local councils.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Council type and the determinants of municipal expenditure: A semiparametric analysis of South Australian local government

Tran

Dollery

2019

Aust J Public Adm

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“…Population growth is an important regressor due to the demands it places on local government expenditure (Ladd ). Population density is included since there is evidence to suggest density affects the unit costs of local government service delivery (Holcombe and Williams ; Edwards and Xiao ). Measures of Deprivation are ubiquitous in the production function literature (see, for example, Drew et al ; Byrnes and Dollery ).…”

Section: Scale Economies Using Different Proxies For Outputmentioning

confidence: 99%

Keeping It In‐House: Households Versus Population as Alternative Proxies for Local Government Output

Drew¹,

Dollery²

2014

Aust J Public Adm

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Forced amalgamation has been used as a policy instrument in local government by numerous regulatory authorities across the world. A common presumption underlying municipal mergers holds that larger local councils will experience greater economies of scale. However, the empirical evidence on this question is mixed. Part of the reason for this could lie in the frequent use of population as a proxy for local government output in the empirical literature. This paper examines the use of alternative proxies, particularly the number of households but also the addition of business unit data. We demonstrate that household data represents a more accurate proxy of Australian local government output compared to population size. In addition, the paper employs experimental data, conceptual considerations on population, and household dynamics to establish that the number of households represents the most appropriate measure of local government size for both empirical and public policy purposes.

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“…Within the sustainable urban environment literature, dwelling density has been a key part of the debate about how many people can live in, and sustain, an area, now and in the future (DETR, 1998;Haughey, 2005;Jenks and Dempsey, 2005;Jenks et al, 1996;Owen, 2009;UTF, 1999UTF, , 2005Williams et al, 2000). More so than sprawling urban areas (Burchell et al, 1998;Holcombe and Williams, 2008), cities that are well designed and of an appropriate density have the ability to support sustainable and holistic communities, comprising affordable housing, public transportation options, energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure, opportunities for social interaction and a vibrant economy (CoV, 2008;Elkin et al, 1991;Prince's Foundation, 2009). Crucial to the sustainability of cities are policies that promote 'suitable' densities (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

High dwelling density as sustainability solution in Lancaster

Boyko¹,

Cooper²

2012

Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Engineering

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2Dwelling density is a tool used to predict, describe and control land use. Through policy guidance, targets are created that promote efficient use of land, reduce the operation of private transportation and increase mixed use. However, decision makers often are unsure how these targets translate into practice at the site scale and how sustainability is impacted. This paper examines one such site in Lancaster, in the northwest of the UK -Luneside East. Local authority policy on dwelling density, both at the site and local scale, is outlined. A sustainability solution (i.e. an action taken today in the name of sustainability) and intended benefit are taken from the policy (i.e. high dwelling density to improve efficiency of land use) and analysed using a futures methodology to understand whether the solution is resilient to whatever the future holds. The analysis is discussed alongside other sustainability issues and solutions.

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The Impact of Population Density on Municipal Government Expenditures

Cited by 79 publications

References 14 publications

Council type and the determinants of municipal expenditure: A semiparametric analysis of South Australian local government

Council type and the determinants of municipal expenditure: A semiparametric analysis of South Australian local government

Keeping It In‐House: Households Versus Population as Alternative Proxies for Local Government Output

High dwelling density as sustainability solution in Lancaster

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