Going Local: The Value of Research on Local Government Policies and Programs

ABSTRACT In their early years, schools of public policy focused on federal policies and programs, as did APPAM and its journal, the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. While this federal bias has diminished over time, it hasn't entirely gone away. This essay makes the case for more attention to local government policies and programs. It argues that studying local government policies and management can deliver unique value. First local governments perform essential, and salient functions that shape people's views of government performance. Second, local governments offer substantial variation in policy design, implementation, and context that researchers can study and from which they can draw lessons. Third, there is considerable demand from local governments for policy and management research, as they typically lack the resources to do much themselves. Fourth, research on local governments arguably has a better chance of influencing actual decision making. Finally, local governments offer uniquely rich administrative data that can provide insights on long‐run impacts, heterogeneity, and spillovers.