ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND MUNICIPAL POLICE SERVICES

• NCJ Number: 12077
• Author(s): N C WALZER
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 81 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Note: UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION - UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Annotation

STUDY OF THE THEORY THAT AS POLICE AGENCIES GROW LARGER AND UNIFY JURISDICTIONALLY, THE PER-UNIT COST OF POLICE ACTIVITIES DECREASES.

Abstract

NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT 75 PERCENT OF A POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET IS ALLOCATED FOR WAGES AND SALARIES, THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A LARGER GOVERNMENTAL UNIT COULD PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY OF SERVICE AT A LOWER COST. THIS MIGHT RESULT FROM SPECIALIZATION AND DIVISION OF LABOR, LARGER RESOURCES FROM WHICH TO DRAW DURING CRITICAL PERIODS, AND THE FACT THAT SUBSTATIONS NEED NOT BE DUPLICATIONS OF HEADQUARTERS WHERE A SINGLE DEPARTMENT SERVICES A JURISDICTION. THE AUTHOR FORMS A MODEL AND A REGRESSION EQUATION AND ANALYZES THE REGRESSION RESULTS. ALL DATA, INCLUDING THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND PRICE INDEX USED ARE INCLUDED AS IS A BIBLIOGRAPHY.