Government Type and Public Spending in Africa. Issue 1 (13th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ariotti, Margaret H.
• Is Part Of: Legislative studies quarterly. Volume 46:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2020-12-13
• Subjects: Coalitions -- public spending -- African democracies -- cabinet composition; Legislative bodies -- Periodicals; Parlement; Procédure législative; Système parlementaire; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 328
• DOI: 10.1111/lsq.12309
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0362-9805

Abstract

Abstract : How does government composition affect government spending in Africa's democracies? Many scholars have examined the political, institutional, and ideological determinants of government spending, finding that government attributes can affect government spending levels. However, many of these studies have focused on OECD countries, largely overlooking the link between government spending and government composition in African democracies. I examine support for two existing theories about the characteristics of governments that can lead to increases in spending levels: the number of parties in government and the number of ministers. I assess empirical evidence for these theories using original data on government composition in 19 African countries from 1990 to 2015 and data on government spending from the World Bank. I find that a coalition at the time the budget is passed is associated with increased spending, but the number of cabinet ministers does not appear to systematically affect levels of government spending.