Abstract
This paper examines the allocation of federal funds to the fifty states through the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982. Targeted at the economically disadvantaged, its allocation formula nevertheless places heavy weights on unemployment measures unrelated to the target group.
Evidence is presented that supports the premise that JTPA formula allocations across states reflect political influence. This is the first study to find evidence of a relationship between state representative legislative tenure and federal fund allocations. The importance of a state's political power in influencing federal fund allocations is also revealed.
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Adam Gifford, Robert Krol, Tony Lowenberg, Michael G. Williams, and an anonymous referee provided useful comments. JTPA funding data was obtained from Greg Knorr at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Research Associate, Milken Institute for Job & Capital Formation, Santa Monica, CA
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Svorny, S.V. Congressional allocation of federal funds: The Job Training Partnership Act of 1982. Public Choice 87, 229–242 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118646
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00118646