# name
Partisan targeting of inter-governmental transfers & state interference in local elections: evidence from Spain [WP-IEB]

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
We examine whether state-level incumbents discriminate in the allocation of transfers in favour of local governments controlled by co-partisans, and whether the electoral prospects of local incumbents improve when they are aligned with the State incumbent. Using a new database covering around 3,000 Spanish municipalities during the period 2000-07 and a Regression Discontinuity design, we document a very strong and robust effect: in close races, municipalities aligned with the regional government obtain on average 83% more per capita transfers and their incumbents gain 10% more votes at the local elections. We also show that the effect of alignment is stronger: (i) when regional and local elections are held on the same day, (ii) in regions with less competitive regional elections, and (ii) in regions with more budget resources.

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc-by-nc-nd, (c) Curto Grau et al., 2012

# metadata.dc.source[].value
IEB (Institut d’Economia de Barcelona) – Working Papers

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Partisan targeting of inter-governmental transfers & state interference in local elections: evidence from Spain [WP-IEB]