학술논문

The political economy of intergovernmental grants: Evidence from a maturing democracy.
Document Type
Article
Source
Public Choice. Dec2007, Vol. 133 Issue 3/4, p457-477. 21p. 6 Charts.
Subject
*Grants in aid (Public finance)
*International economic assistance
*Intergovernmental fiscal relations
*Public finance
Democracy
Manipulative behavior
Political systems
Cities & towns
Language
ISSN
0048-5829
Abstract
We evaluate the impact of political forces in the allocation of intergovernmental grants in Portugal, as it matured from a young to an established democracy. Using a large and unexplored dataset we show that political variables condition the granting system, and that their importance changed over time. While tactical manipulation in the distribution of grants among municipalities seems to exist only in the early years of democracy, opportunistic effects are stronger in the latter years. We argue that the latter effect is due to a change in the political environment and to the electorate’s lack of information on intergovernmental grants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]