Impact of politicians’ salaries and their dedication regime on the efficiency of municipal public services

ABSTRACT

Cases of corruption, the financial and economic crisis, and citizens’ growing interest in public affairs have contributed to the political changes that have taken place in Spain in recent years. In this scenario, in which new political actors appear, this research analyses whether politicians’ remuneration, their dedication regime and several socio-political and economic variables have an impact on the efficiency of the main municipal services. The results indicate the key role of remuneration and the dedication of politicians in efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Politicians’ salaries
• local government
• efficiency
• municipal services

Acknowledgments

The Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU-MEC 16/03180) has financially supported this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education [FPU-MEC 16/03180].

Notes on contributors

Bernardino Benito

Bernardino Benito is a professor of public sector accounting at the University of Murcia, Spain. His research interests focus on public administration, accountability and management, public finance, transparency, performance budgeting and cost of public services. He has recently published in, among other publications, Cities, Utilities Policy, Applied Economics, Local Government Studies, Public Choice and the Revista de Contabilidad-Spanish Accounting Review.

Pedro-José Martínez-Córdoba

Pedro-José Martínez-Córdoba has a research grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education, and is working at the University of Murcia, Spain. He has recently published in Sustainability and Public Utilities.

María-Dolores Guillamón

María-Dolores Guillamón is an associate professor of public sector accounting at the University of Murcia, Spain. Her research focuses on financial management, transparency, accountability and debt in the public sector, and she has recently published in International Public Management Journal, Local Government Studies, The Information Society, Government Information Quarterly and European Journal of Law and Economics.