Reducing horizontal neglect in local government: The role of informal institutions.
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| Title: | Reducing horizontal neglect in local government: The role of informal institutions. |
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| Authors: | Askim, Jostein1 (AUTHOR) jostein.askim@stv.uio.no, Houlberg, Kurt2 (AUTHOR), Serritzlew, Søren3 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Public Administration Review. Nov/Dec2025, Vol. 85 Issue 6, p1788-1803. 16p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Social norms, *Field research, Local government, Decentralization in government, Overspending |
| Abstract: | The problem of "horizontal neglect" is fundamental to decentralization. However, while individual local authorities may lack incentives to consider the benefits and costs that their actions have on others, they are not always indifferent to these spillover effects. The study focuses on a clear case of horizontal neglect, namely the tendency of local authorities to overspend prior to merging. By employing a survey experiment involving Norwegian local elected officials, the article demonstrates that horizontal neglect can be alleviated through informal institutions, specifically through prosocial norms and the framing of decisions in a way that encourages officials to consider the impact on other jurisdictions. Priming local politicians with reminders of their broader responsibilities reduces both horizontal neglect and the overspending effect of social norms that stem from local politicians' opposition to the merger of their own municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Public Administration Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 190222603 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Reducing horizontal neglect in local government: The role of informal institutions. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Askim%2C+Jostein%22">Askim, Jostein</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jostein.askim@stv.uio.no</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Houlberg%2C+Kurt%22">Houlberg, Kurt</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Serritzlew%2C+Søren%22">Serritzlew, Søren</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Public+Administration+Review%22">Public Administration Review</searchLink>. Nov/Dec2025, Vol. 85 Issue 6, p1788-1803. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+norms%22">Social norms</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Field+research%22">Field research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Local+government%22">Local government</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decentralization+in+government%22">Decentralization in government</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Overspending%22">Overspending</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The problem of "horizontal neglect" is fundamental to decentralization. However, while individual local authorities may lack incentives to consider the benefits and costs that their actions have on others, they are not always indifferent to these spillover effects. The study focuses on a clear case of horizontal neglect, namely the tendency of local authorities to overspend prior to merging. By employing a survey experiment involving Norwegian local elected officials, the article demonstrates that horizontal neglect can be alleviated through informal institutions, specifically through prosocial norms and the framing of decisions in a way that encourages officials to consider the impact on other jurisdictions. Priming local politicians with reminders of their broader responsibilities reduces both horizontal neglect and the overspending effect of social norms that stem from local politicians' opposition to the merger of their own municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Public Administration Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/puar.13925 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 1788 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Social norms Type: general – SubjectFull: Field research Type: general – SubjectFull: Local government Type: general – SubjectFull: Decentralization in government Type: general – SubjectFull: Overspending Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Reducing horizontal neglect in local government: The role of informal institutions. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Askim, Jostein – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Houlberg, Kurt – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Serritzlew, Søren IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 11 Text: Nov/Dec2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00333352 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 85 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Public Administration Review Type: main |
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