In this paper, we offer a comprehensive and updated review of the impact of fiscal
decentralization on the economy, society and politics. Our first target is the examination of …

This article provides an overview of empirical models of strategic interaction among
governments. To clarify the theoretical roots of such studies, the discussion shows how the …

We examine whether US states are engaged in strategic environmental policymaking. In
particular, do states incorporate the stringency of environmental policies in neighboring …

This article examines several of the key hypotheses suggested by the race to the bottom
theory in environmental regulation. The research studies annual state‐level enforcement of …

This paper uses spatial econometric methods to investigate property-tax competition among
local governments. The theoretical model is drawn from the literature on tax competition, in …

This paper estimates the extent to which state spending is influenced by the spending of
neighboring states, examining several different metrics of neighborliness in order to better …

" Observers have long marveled at the spread of ideas and policies from state to state in
American democracy. But why and how do politicians, professionals, and citizens in one …

This paper uses Italian local government data to test for fiscal interaction arising from
yardstick competition. To discriminate yardstick competition from competing theories of …

Economists have argued that welfare migration leads to a race to the bottom in the choice of
welfare benefits. Although a system of federal matching grants can remedy this problem, the …

This paper critically surveys the growing literature on the policy choices of local
governments. First, we identify various reasons for local government policy interactions …