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The Effect of Municipal Services and Local Taxes on Housing Values
Author(s) -
Kohlhepp Daniel B.,
Ingene Charles A.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
real estate economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.064
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1540-6229
pISSN - 1080-8620
DOI - 10.1111/1540-6229.t01-12-00201
Subject(s) - disequilibrium , tiebout model , economics , context (archaeology) , differential (mechanical device) , municipal services , public economics , microeconomics , public good , law , medicine , paleontology , biology , political science , engineering , ophthalmology , aerospace engineering
This paper presents an economic model which casts the “Tiebout Hypothesis” in a Von Thumen type model of spatial equilibrium and considers the effect of differential provision of municipal services on household utility levels and housing prices in a politically fragmented urban area. Also in the context of this model three alternative methods of financing municipal services are examined. The article suggests that different levels of municipal services may cause spatial disequilibrium in an urban area, and as households move within the urban area to maximize their utility, they bid up (or down) the price of housing to the extent that their consumer's surplus is capitalized in housing values. Thus, the resultant urban rent gradient may be “kinked” or discontinuous. This paper also presents empirical findings examining the relationship between housing values and several municipal services.