Skip to main content
Log in

A median voter analysis of variations in the use of property taxes among local governments

  • Articles
  • Published:
Public Choice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores the variations among local governments in the composition of tax revenues, or more specifically, in the relative use of property taxes. Using a median voter framework, various hypotheses are developed concerning the factors that should influence the relative use of property taxes. A cross-sectional sample of central cities is employed to test the hypotheses. The empirical results are consistent with the hypotheses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ACIR. (1972). State-local finances: Significant features and suggested legislation. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • ACIR. (1973). Financing schools and property tax relief: A state responsibility. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr, J., and Davis, O. (1968). An elementary political and economic theory of the expenditures of local governments. Southern Economic Journal, pp. 149–165.

  • Bergstrom, T., and Goodman, R. (1973). Private demand for public goods. American Economic Review June: 280–294.

  • Borcherding, T., and Deacon, R. (1972). The demand for services of non-federal government. American Economic Review, December: 891–901.

  • Cline, R. (1977). An econometric study of state budgeting: The Michigan general fund — general purpose budget. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan.

  • David, E. (1967). Public preference and state-local taxes. In Henry Brazer (Ed.), Essays in state and local finance.

  • Deacon, R.T. (1978). A demand model for the local public sector. Review of Economics and Statistics, May: 184–192.

  • Flowers, M.R. (1977). Multiple tax sources, voting equilibrium, and budgetary size. Public Finance, pp. 210–223.

  • Henderson, J. (1968). Local government expenditures: A social welfare analysis, Review of Economics and Statistics, May: 156–163.

  • Hogan, T., and Shelton, R. (1973). Interstate tax exportation and states' fiscal structure. National Tax Journal 26 (December): 553–564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, G.H. (1973). On a class of equilibrium conditions for majority rule. Econometrics, March: 285–297.

  • Lovell, M.C. (1978). Spending for education: The exercises of public choice. Review of Economics and Statistics, November: 487–495.

  • McLure, C. (1967). Interstate exporting of state and local taxes: Estimates for 1962. National Tax Journal, 20 (March): 49–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nation's Cities. (1971). City taxes and services. August and November.

  • Rhea, B.A. (1975). Determinants of local tax utilization: The case of Pennsylvania school districts. Master's Thesis, Georgia State University.

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1971). City government finances in 1969–70. Series GF70-No. 4, Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1973). Census of population: 1970, Vol. 1, Characteristics of the population. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of Census. (1974). Census of government, 1972, Vol. 4, Government finances, No. 4. Finances of municipalities and township governments. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1976). Census of retail sales, 1972, Vol. II. Area Statistics. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varian, H. R. (1978). Microeconomic Analysis. New York: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

I wish to thank Paul Farnham, Jorge Martinez, Paula Stephan, Bruce Seaman, Paul Rubin, Gordon Tullock and members of the Graduate Workshop for helpful suggestions. I wish also to acknowledge partial financial support of the Research Program Committee of the College of Business Administration, Georgia State University.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sjoquist, D.L. A median voter analysis of variations in the use of property taxes among local governments. Public Choice 36, 273–285 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00123784

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00123784

Keywords

Navigation