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The determinants of success in local earmarking: The case of new york city council discretionary expense grants

Yonghong Wu (Department of Public Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago)
Daniel W. Williams (Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Baruch College)

Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management

ISSN: 1096-3367

Article publication date: 1 March 2017

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Abstract

This paper examines the determinants of success in seeking local government earmarked funding. We compile data of the aggregate amounts of the New York City Council discretionary expense grants received or requested by each council district every year during 2011-2013. The statistical results show that the allocation of the expense grants are politically motivated with more earmark funds flowing to the districts council leaders and key committee chairpersons represent. Furthermore, constituents of key committee chairpersons are more successful in the earmarking process. Districts with larger African American population have lower success ratios possibly because they request significantly more earmarks. These empirical findings are consistent with anecdotal perceptions that earmarking is not substantially effective in meeting community need.

Citation

Wu, Y. and Williams, D.W. (2017), "The determinants of success in local earmarking: The case of new york city council discretionary expense grants", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 319-345. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-29-03-2017-B002

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017 by PrAcademics Press

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