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Spending Preferences of Public Sector Officials: Survey Evidence from Finland
Author(s) -
VENETOKLIS TAKIS,
KIANDER JAAKKO
Publication year - 2006
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/j.1540-5850.2006.00845.x
Subject(s) - public sector , public economics , empirical evidence , economics , survey data collection , budget constraint , public choice , measure (data warehouse) , test (biology) , business , public administration , political science , politics , microeconomics , economy , law , paleontology , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , epistemology , database , computer science , biology
We examine the determinants that shape the spending preferences of public sector officials on several budgetary appropriations. Following Niskanen's budget‐maximizing theory, we test whether these officials prefer larger budgetary appropriations rather than less. We measure their preferences to increase their own bureau's appropriations and compare those against their preferences for other bureaus' appropriations. The empirical evidence is gathered via a mail survey targeting high‐level officials from different ministries in Finland. The analysis of the responses suggests that Niskanen's theory is in part supported.