Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Charron, Nicholas
URN	etd-05012007-164458
Title	The Effects of Power-Sharing on the Size of the Public Sector: An Empirical Study
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Political Science, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Dale Smith Committee Chair Bumba Muhkerjee Committee Member Carl Schmertmann Committee Member Paul Hensel Committee Member Tom Carsey Committee Member
Keywords	Public Spending Federalism Political Institutions Veto Players
Date of Defense	2007-03-17
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This project seeks to comprehensively understand the relationship between power-sharing/ veto institutions and the size of a government’s public sector. Specifically, I examine the horizontal and vertical power-sharing institutions of political parties and federalism respectively. Building on a comprehensive literature of the relationship between political institutions and public spending, I argue that governments that do not share power either vertically or horizontally are expected to be associated with larger public sectors. Conversely, power-sharing at both levels is expected to best constrain central government spending. I use comprehensive political and economic data for over 100 states from 1975-2000 and find that some of my argument is supported by the data, even when controlling for partisanship, regime type, economic growth and economic openness. I then look at each power-sharing institution’s effect on spending more closely by employing a detailed case study on sub-national governments. It examines power-sharing in three federal states, the United States, Canada and Germany in order to look at how divided and coalition government at the sub-national level affects public spending relative to unified or single party governments. I find mixed support for my theory, though it is stronger in presidential than in parliamentary systems.
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