Discretion at the local level in the administration of state or federal programs may generate inequalities in spending among the different localities within a state. Among the counties of Texas, inequalities in welfare programs-Aid to Families with Dependent Children and food stamps-prove...

As the number of local institutions that train individuals for employment has grown, policymakers have become concerned about possible duplication and wasteful competition. Potential solutions to this perceived problem typically revolve around strategies for encouraging greater coordination...