El peso del sector público en la economía: resumen de la literatura y aplicación al caso español
Series: Occasional Papers. 2212.
Author: Carlos Sanz.
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Abstract
This article reviews the academic literature on the determinants of the size of the public sector. First, it analyses classical models based on the median voter theorem, according to which public decisions are determined by the preferences of the “median voter” in terms of income (i.e. the voter who has an income below half of voters and above the other half). Second, it reviews the theories, based on citizens’ preferences, that include the notion of the perception of justice and trust in public institutions. Third, it reviews the literature on the role of the political process, private interests, electoral systems and systems of government. Particular emphasis is placed on the recent studies for Spain that stress citizens’ preferences, the role of trust in institutions, and the system of government.