Districts, diversity, and fiscal biases: Evidence from the American states

This paper argues that the configuration of legislative districts and not m erely the number of districts matters for fiscal performance. District conf iguration mediates the extent of constituent diversity both across and with in districts. Both dimensions of diversity affect the political calculus as sociated with pork barrel politics, Empirical findings for the American sta tes reveal statistically and quantitatively significant effects of constitu ent diversity on state government spending. Together the analysis and evide nce emphasize the conditional nature of the ''Law of 1/n.'' In the United S tates, this point acquires practical relevance from the Constitutional mand ate for decennial redistricting in all jurisdictions based on geographic re presentation.