REVISITING TIEBOUT - MOVING RATIONALES AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL RELOCATION

This article evaluates a key component of the model of local public ex penditures put forth by Charles Tiebout and embraced by analysts in th e public choice tradition. Central to this model is the assumption tha t citizens who are unhappy with local government policies have an ince ntive to relocate to a different jurisdiction that offers preferable t axes and services, Using data from a survey of actual movers in over f ifty communities (including a large central city) located in the two l argest counties of a metropolitan area, we examined factors affecting both rite decision to move and the choice of a new residence. Empirica l findings support the expectations of the Tiebout model, showing that tax and service factors significantly influence the choice of a new r esidence for those who moved from one jurisdiction to another: The imp lications of the findings for central cities are developed.