Structural expansion and the cost of global isomorphism - A cross-national study of ministerial structure, 1950-1990

초록

Central governments have expanded over time across all regions in both ministerial and fiscal scales. However, it has not been shown empirically whether the structural expansion of central government is even a worldwide phenomenon. By studying both ministerial and fiscal expansion of 116 sovereign nation-states from 1950 to 1990, this study empirically demonstrates the global nature of governmental expansion and further examines its implication for national development using two-way random effects GLS models. Results clearly indicate that the cost of a large governmental structure is overwhelming and the expansion of central government has not been beneficial for national development across all nation-states. Negative effects are especially strong for relatively new and less developed nation-states that use ministerial structures as a form of expressing their stateness to obtain international legitimation.

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