Suchergebnisse

Two major policy innovations of the Thatcher governments are analysed—privatisation and poll tax. A public choice analysis is used to predict and explain why poll tax will be a less popular policy electorally than privatisation. The explanation focuses on the distribution of gains and losses between gainers and losers under the two policies. Two implications of the analysis are that future privatisation issues are likely to continue to be underpriced and that increased central grants will be used to reduce the average level of poll tax.

Describes the pre-1990 pattern of turnout and voting at ward level in Birmingham. Discusses how, given the Government's concept of the previous weaknesses in local accountability, the poll tax should according to this definition be expected to affect ward turnout and voting patterns. Analyses the 1990 results and draws conclusions. (JLN)

It is widely accepted that local authorities in England have been placed under increasing fiscal pressure during the 1980s by the block grant system combined with the rising level of grant penalties. Controversy surrounds the question of which local authorities have been worst treated by the new system. In this paper it is shown how the measurement of relative fiscal pressure has become much more complex than under the previous grant system, and published results on a suggested measure of fiscal pressure between 1980/81 and 1984/85 are presented.