An analysis of local government expenditures : reconciling socioeconomic, political and governmental perspectives
Issued Date
2010
Available Date
Copyright Date
Resource Type
Series
Edition
Language
eng
File Type
application/pdf
No. of Pages/File Size
leaves : ; 30 cm.
ISBN
ISSN
eISSN
DOI
Other identifier(s)
Identifier(s)
Access Rights
Access Status
Rights
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Rights Holder(s)
Physical Location
National Institute of Development Administration. Library and Information Center
Bibliographic Citation
Citation
Sudasinghe, Sepalika Nayanie (2010). An analysis of local government expenditures : reconciling socioeconomic, political and governmental perspectives. Retrieved from: http://repository.nida.ac.th/handle/662723737/756.
Title
An analysis of local government expenditures : reconciling socioeconomic, political and governmental perspectives
Alternative Title(s)
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Advisor(s)
Advisor's email
Contributor(s)
Contributor(s)
Abstract
The determinants of government expenditure is a recurring theme both in government and scientific discourse. Apart from the central government, local governments are significant in enhancing the community wellbeing and encountering new challenges due to the changing circumstances in which they operate in. There exist few studies on this subject in the Sri Lankan context; therefore focus on Sri Lanka is interesting for several reasons. This study is mainly conducted with three main objectives, and those can be specifically stated as follows. 1) To study the major determinants, trends and differences in level of local government expenditures in Sri Lanka 2) To explain the differences in the level of local government expenditures by identifying their determinants 3) To propose policy measures based on the models towards promoting the welfare and comfort of the citizens at the local level The main theories underlined in this research are the median voter theory and the utility maximization assumption in the context of the public choice approach. The proposed model was built upon the general approach to expenditure research. In terms of research design, the dependant variable in this research is local government expenditures, and the independent variables stem from socioeconomic characteristics, political characteristics, and governmental characteristics. In terms of the samples used in this research, all of the municipalities and urban councils, are taken from year 2006 on the basis of that year’s local government elections and total 54. Relevant to this study, secondary data are considered as the major source of information. Apart from the quantitative technique, the qualitative technique was used in this study in identifying the determinants of local government expenditures in Sri Lanka The first premise of this research in general is that local government expenditures varies according to the mixture of socioeconomic, political, and governmental factors. More socioeconomic variables in models indicate a demand-driven aspect in local government resource allocation. Local polities also play an important role at the local level in terms of political motivation among the politicians; additionally, the voters are strikingly significant in decision making. Apart from that, the local government’s tax effort indicated a significant research implication. Moreover, the dominant role of the central government over the local-level is also significant in expenditure decision making at local level. On the basis of the research implications, policy recommendations are made and mainly the participatory budgeting system and the strengthening of the local revenue base are proposed in facilitating and promoting a need-based development towards promoting the welfare and comfort of the citizens at local level.
Table of contents
Description
Thesis (Ph.D. (Development Administration))--National Institute of Development Administration.