We investigate how lump-sum equalization transfers affect expenditures and taxes in the municipalities of the largest … German state North Rhine-Westphalia. In general, those general-purpose transfers cannot be treated as exogenous variables … instrumental variables. Findings suggest the existence of the "flypaper effect" - municipalities use transfers to increase …

We investigate the effect of general-purpose transfers on different expenditure categories and tax rates in the … suggest the existence of the "flypaper effect" - municipalities use transfers to increase expenditures but do not reduce taxes …

Intergovernmental transfers can be either conditional or unconditional with regard to the autonomy of local governments … provides primarily unconditional transfers for local governments. Furthermore, in the case of adopting the principle of … transfers appears to gain significance in providing local utilities, this study shows the recent Saxon experience with the …