Does Efficiency Shape the Territorial Structure of Government?

Posted: 4 Jun 2010

See all articles by Liesbet Hooghe

Liesbet Hooghe

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Political Science Department; European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS)

Gary Marks

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Political Science Department

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 2009

Abstract

This article asks three questions. Why is government organized across multiple levels? Does efficiency determine the level at which decisions are made? Does efficiency frame how policy problems are bundled in jurisdictions? Rather than examine how government structure may or may not lead to efficient outcomes, this article considers how efficiency constrains government. The purpose here is to probe fundamental commonalities of government structure which are usually taken for granted because they exist in an otherwise fluctuating political universe.

Suggested Citation

Hooghe, Liesbet and Marks, Gary, Does Efficiency Shape the Territorial Structure of Government? (June 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1600561 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.12.041107.102315

Liesbet Hooghe (Contact Author)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Political Science Department ( email )

Chapel Hill, NC 27599
United States

European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS) ( email )

Villa Schifanoia, Via Boccaccio 121
50016 San Domenico di Fiesole
Florence, Florence 50014
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://https://hooghe.web.unc.edu

Gary Marks

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Political Science Department ( email )

Chapel Hill, NC 27599
United States

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