Simmons, Phil

Dollery, Brian

2023

<p>Shortfalls in infrastructure expenditure represent a ubiquitous problem in all Australian local government systems as well as in many other countries. In this paper, we use an evolutionary model to describe how local government investment decisions are made. We demonstrate that fear of reputational damage among elected councilors could cause herding behavior resulting in convergent and overly cautious investment behavior by councils. Under these conditions, divergent viewpoints amongst council members are discouraged and local government may become moribund in its decision-making. We show how this may result in "gaps" in infrastructure investment.</p>

The Singapore Economic Review, 68(2), p. 457-466

1793-6837

0217-5908

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/63241

World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd

Explaining Gaps In Infrastructure Investment By Municipal Governments In Australia

Journal Article

Publication