Does Local Autonomy Enhance Representation? The Influence of Home Rule on County Expenditures

Abstract

This article examines the interactive role between institution type and ideology at the local governmental level, demonstrating that additional degrees of autonomy allow for meaningful policy decisions locally. With increased discretion over policy expenditures, autonomy enhances the opportunity for ideological representation of constituents. The article explores the role of autonomy in county governments in Florida over a thirty-year period, questioning whether ideological dispositions of constituents are reflected in redistributive expenditures. Findings support the claim that local governments, with an augmented degree of autonomy provided via charter governance, may exhibit more flexibility in policy priorities than counties without more autonomous institutions.