Leviathan and Pure Public Goods in a Federation with Mobile Populations

Abstract

This paper investigates properties of the second best allocation in a federation where regional governments provide a pure public good non-cooperatively and policy makers are neither entirely benevolent nor wholly self-serving. A high degree of household mobility across regions forces the governments to raise the efficiency of the public good, however, it also helps to waste resources. It is shown that regional Leviathans not only under-provide the public good but also decrease the amount of wasteful expenditures as households become less mobile. Central government's intervention can enhance efficiency if households are attached to particular regions.

JEL classification codes:

• H70
• H77

Key words:

• Pure public goods
• Leviathan
• household mobility