Size, structure and administrative overheads: an empirical analysis of English Local Authorities

Andrews, Rhys William ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1904-9819 and Boyne, George Alexander 2009. Size, structure and administrative overheads: an empirical analysis of English Local Authorities. Urban Studies 46 (4) , pp. 739-759. 10.1177/0042098009102127

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Abstract

The relationship is analysed between size, local government structure and administrative overheads in English local authorities. Size and structure effects are tested while controlling for a range of other variables, including the relative prosperity of the local population and the diversity of their service needs. The empirical results show that population size consistently has a linear negative effect: central administrative costs are lower in larger local authorities. The results also show that, controlling for size, administrative overheads are higher for councils in the lower tier of the existing two-tier system. The analysis provides support for arguments that economies of scale might be achieved by amalgamating smaller councils into larger units and by combining counties and districts into unitary authorities.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Business (Including Economics)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management H Social Sciences > HJ Public Finance J Political Science > JF Political institutions (General) J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain J Political Science > JS Local government Municipal government
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
ISSN:	0042-0980
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 09:07
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/20076

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