Research Prospectus: Targeting of State and Federal Funds to Distressed Areas

摘要

Procedures are presented for carrying out an indepth analysis of the relative responsiveness of state and Federal aid to distressed areas. This will involve the examination of Federal and state sub-state funding flows and the determination of the degree of distress which exists in sample communities. Samples will be selected on the basis of criteria such as the availability of data, regional distribution, and the structure of the state-local system. State and Federal budgets will be analyzed to obtain information on monetary flows. To corroborate and clarify any discrepancies, local budgets will also be subject to analysis. The study will construct indices for large, medium, and small cities and towns to measure the social, economic, and fiscal dimensions of distress. From the sample of states, all large cities will be included in the analysis. Data on monetary flows and community distress will be used to conduct appropriate quantitative analyses. The report discusses the U.S. intergovernmental grant-in-aid system, concepts of need and distress, and targeting of funds.