The problem of the fiscal common-pool: is there an overlap effect on state and local debt?
Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management
ISSN: 1096-3367
Article publication date: 18 May 2020
Issue publication date: 15 June 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of the study is to determine if an over-borrowing bias emerges when the state fiscal base is shared by multiple general-purpose and special-purpose jurisdictions serving different groups of citizens.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses panel data from all 50 states in the US from 1997 to 2007 to estimate models of total debt levels of state governments and total debt levels of all local governments aggregated at the state level. For comparison, it also estimates total debt levels of state and local governments taken together for the same years.
Findings
This study finds that jurisdictional overlap will increase state government debt, local government debt, as well as combined state and local government debt.
Originality/value
The finding from the study suggests that the fiscal common-pool model provides a more accurate analysis and more appropriate understanding of the institutional composition at the state and local public sector, especially for the vertical dimension of the local public sector where there are more specialized and overlapping jurisdictions.
Keywords
Citation
Shi, Y. and Hendrick, R. (2020), "The problem of the fiscal common-pool: is there an overlap effect on state and local debt?", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 32 No. 2, pp. 137-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-11-2019-0176
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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