Project

Essays in public finance

Code
bof/baf/4y/2024/01/123
Duration
01 January 2024 → 31 December 2025
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Social sciences
    • Other economics and business not elsewhere classified
    • Federalism
    • Local and urban politics
    • Political behaviour not elsewhere classified
Keywords
grants local public finance political determinants
 
Project description

With these resources, we continue research on the impact of political variables on the distribution of grants by the regions  among local governments. Specifically, we deepen research on pork barrel politics in Flanders (Smolders and Descamps, 2024) by examining whether municipalities where federal parliamentarians are domiciled receive more grant funding than other municipalities. We additionally examine whether other policy networks such as cabinets can explain the concentration of funding flows to some municipalities. Additionally, we also examine whether dual mandates have an impact on the fiscal choices municipalities make and on debt accumulation. Finally, we analyze whether citizen participation can have a mitigating impact on pork barrel politics.