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Is small really so beautiful? Is big really so ugly? Size, effectiveness and democracy in local government

Is small really so beautiful? Is big really so ugly? Size, effectiveness and democracy in local government
Is small really so beautiful? Is big really so ugly? Size, effectiveness and democracy in local government
Arguments about the optimum size for units of local government often overlook the fact that small units have some considerable drawbacks while large ones have some advantages. By and large the discussion breaks down into two parts; those about size and functional effectiveness, and those about size and democracy. On the first count, it seems that large units are no less efficient and can be a good deal more effective than small ones. On the question of size and democracy, the evidence suggests that large units of government are no less democratic than small ones, and that in some respects they may be more so.
0032-3217
190-206
Newton, Kenneth
17e0a529-235b-4960-824d-268f31e63d61
Newton, Kenneth
17e0a529-235b-4960-824d-268f31e63d61

Newton, Kenneth (1982) Is small really so beautiful? Is big really so ugly? Size, effectiveness and democracy in local government. Political Studies, 30 (2), 190-206. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-9248.1982.tb00532.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Arguments about the optimum size for units of local government often overlook the fact that small units have some considerable drawbacks while large ones have some advantages. By and large the discussion breaks down into two parts; those about size and functional effectiveness, and those about size and democracy. On the first count, it seems that large units are no less efficient and can be a good deal more effective than small ones. On the question of size and democracy, the evidence suggests that large units of government are no less democratic than small ones, and that in some respects they may be more so.

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Published date: June 1982

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Local EPrints ID: 34468
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/34468
ISSN: 0032-3217
PURE UUID: 17f7674d-2336-4ddc-a7ff-6384369943b3

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Date deposited: 16 Jan 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:47

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Author: Kenneth Newton

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