Abstract
Is consolidation of local governments within metropolitan areas desirable? The reform approach advocates greater consolidation to promote efficiency and equity. However, recent studies by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR), relying on a public choice approach, argue that formally fragmented systems can produce self-determination, citizen choice, competition, fiscal equivalence, accountability, and representation. This study reassesses the evidence presented in the ACIR study on Allegheny County. While concurring that traditional reform efforts are poorly conceptualized, the findings show that fiscal disparities among Allegheny County municipalities persist and have significantly increased over the past decade. These findings, taken together with those from citizen surveys, challenge the conceptual foundations and policy implications of both approaches.
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