> ref Tideman and Tullock, 1976, A New and Superior Process 
> ..., JPE 84 (Dec).
> 
> T&T note that demand revelation is not perfect.  For example 
> coalitions can
> distort the results.  The coalition benefit would vary with 
> the square of the
> number of members.  But majority voting also suffers from a 
> large numbers
> problem.  There is thus a case in either method for keeping 
> the number of
> participants relatively small.
> 

> Fred Foldvary

Thanks for a lot of explanation, Fred.  But I wonder if there
are any small homeowner associations, or service clubs, or
any group, who actually have used this method for allocating
the group budget?

I have this strong feeling the answer is no, no technocratic
run cities, no homeowners, not even any group
of economists (like an econ dept. of a university).  This gives
me a feeling of speculative irrelevancy, despite the possible
improvements (though not as much as imagining the US like a corporation
with shares).

On the other hand, I understand some cities HAVE used a land-value
tax.  Aren't there any good empirical studies of before & after --
and even reversion?  I think I recall reading that some cities tried
it, and then abandoned it as too complex, or maybe too unfair.  
But I don't know the details and I'd be interested in them.

Again, thanks for insights,
Tom Grey


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