The temporal dependence of public policy evaluation: the case of local government amalgamation

More Money or More Problems? Assessing the Fiscal Impact of Consolidation in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia

“…McQuestin, Drew, and Iiboshi (2022) explain that similar to conclusions drawn from the city-county consolidation literature in the U.S. context, "the scholarly literature surrounding the subject of amalgamation outcomes has been inconclusive," with various studies demonstrating mixed results ranging from cost reductions to cost increases, or either statistically insignificant associations or "savings are not sufficiently large as to cause a material impact for total local government expenditure" (p. 2). For instance, Blom-Hansen et al (2016) find no reduction in total spending as a result of the 2007 Danish municipal amalgamation reform effort, but do find a reduction in administrative spending.…”

“…Overall, the literature points to few generalizable trends with regard to efficiency gains, often measured as a reduction in expenditures (Carr and Feiock 2004;Jimenez and Hendrick 2010;Martin and Schiff 2011;Faulk and Grassmueck 2012;Galizzi, Rota, and Sicilia 2023;McQuestin, Drew, and Iiboshi 2022). However, it should be noted that while the general perspective that consolidation does not inherently lead to reduced overall expenditures, there are some cases where government mergers have led to greater efficiencies in both the United States (e.g.…”

Bridging the Gap: Applying Rawls’ Justice Principles in North Sumatra’s Public Policies

“…To achieve this, the local government needs to formulate comprehensive and sustainable policies that not only address current inequalities but also prevent future injustices. This includes strengthening policy monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, ensuring transparency and accountability in budget management, and involving various stakeholders, including the community, in the planning and implementation process (Bourgeois & Maltais, 2023;Markwat, 2021;McQuestin et al, 2023). With an inclusive and participatory approach, the local government can more effectively identify existing needs and problems and formulate more targeted policies.…”