Title: Did the property tax revolt affect local government wages and employment? Evidence from the States

Authors: Ronald J. Shadbegian

Addresses: Associate Professor, Department of Economics University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Research Associate, U.S. Census Bureau, Boston Research Data Center, USA

Abstract: The property tax revolt of the 1970|s and 1980|s saw many ||new|| restrictions placed on local government budgets. Most of these restrictions took the form of local tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) which focused on property taxes. The purpose of this study is to examine whether or not local TELs have reduced local government wages and employment. Anticipating the results, the author demonstrates, using a panel data set on local government wages and employment (1972-1992), the following points: TELs decrease local government wages and employment; the stringency of the TEL law matters; and public sector unions neutralise the constraining effects of TELs.

Keywords: property tax revolt; local government wages; local government employment; tax and expenditure limitations; public sector unions; trade unions; local government budgets; budget constraints.

DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2000.006154

Global Business and Economics Review, 2000 Vol.2 No.1, pp.104 - 120

Published online: 07 Feb 2005 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article