Endogenous policy decentralization: Testing the central tenet of economic federalism

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Strumpf, KS; Oberholzer-Gee, F
• 署名单位: University of North Carolina; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of Pennsylvania
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/324393
• 发表日期: 2002
• 页码: 1-36
• 关键词: Alcohol; Prohibition; LIQUOR

摘要

The economic theory of federalism is largely built around the premise that more heterogeneous preferences result in more decentralized policy making. Despite its prominence and importance, this central tenet of economic federalism has never been empirically evaluated. This paper presents the first formal test of the link between preference heterogeneity and endogenous policy decentralization using as a case study liquor control in the United States over the period 1934-70. The results are reassuring: States with more heterogeneous preferences are more likely to decentralize liquor control and allow for local government decision making.