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Measuring Citizen Preferences for Public Services Using Surveys: Does a “Gray Peril” Threaten Funding for Public Education?
Author(s) -
Duncombe William,
Robbins Mark,
Stonecash Jeffrey
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
public budgeting and finance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.694
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1540-5850
pISSN - 0275-1100
DOI - 10.1111/1540-5850.2301003
Subject(s) - voting , gray (unit) , valuation (finance) , public education , majority rule , contingent valuation , public opinion , public support , context (archaeology) , political science , survey data collection , local election , public economics , economics , public administration , demographic economics , willingness to pay , finance , geography , politics , microeconomics , medicine , statistics , mathematics , archaeology , law , radiology
Given the rising share of senior citizens and their higher voter participation rates, seniors could represent a sizeable bloc of voters in many local elections. Concerns have been raised about a “gray peril,” where seniors vote against some local services, such as education. Preferences for education are examined using a contingent valuation survey method in the context of local school budget referenda. The results suggest for this district that elders are a heterogeneous group, and that block voting against schools is unlikely. The impact of age on preferences appears more likely to emerge in how these groups respond to changes in their economic circumstances.