Local Government Professionalism: Township Trustees in Indiana

Abstract

This article examines the influence of local government professionalism on the generosity of poor relief in Indiana townships. Key findings are that generosity must be measured in multiple ways and that the model fits best when applied to the largest townships in the state. Communities with higher caseloads provide benefits to a larger share of the population and taxes are higher. Townships facing greater economic hardship have a larger proportion of their population receiving assistance and contribute more per community resident, but provide a lower average benefit. The model is less robust in explaining generosity when the largest townships are excluded.

KEYWORDS:

• professionalism
• local government
• welfare generosity

This research was funded through grants from the Joyce Foundation, a state government agency, and a local government association. The author is indebted to Dr. Maureen Pirog and Dr. Katherine Byers, co-directors of the Institute for Family and Social Responsibility and Dr. David Reingold, for their assistance and financial support.

Notes

¹ Only one of the five neediest townships completed the mail survey. As a result, the other four drop out of the analysis due to missing data.