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Center for Regional Economic IssuesCase Western Reserve University
Issue Brief
© Weatherhead School of Management. Case Western Reserve University. 2004
Cuyahoga County: Collaborating to Compete
ReportPrepared by theCenter for Regional Economic Issuesfor Leadership ClevelandNovember 11, 2004
Center for Regional Economic IssuesCase Western Reserve University
© Weatherhead School of Management. Case Western Reserve University. 2004
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The main points on the costs of governing in Cuyahoga County
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Generally speaking, Southern states are more competitive than Northern states in thedelivery of government services.
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Ohio has been adding higher levels of local public employment, despite relatively slowpopulations growth.
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Cuyahoga County has far higher levels of public employment than comparablecounties.
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When compared to all U.S. counties, Cuyahoga County is relatively large, but thecounty does not realize any significant “economies of scale” from this size. To thecontrary, Cuyahoga County is significantly less productive than other comparablecounties.
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The productivity of the public sector is important, because it plays a tightly connectedrole with the region’s competitive position. We can visualize these connections incycles of “prosperity” and “decline”.
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Civic leaders in Cuyahoga County face a choice of which cycle we will enter.
Center for Regional Economic IssuesCase Western Reserve University
© Weatherhead School of Management. Case Western Reserve University. 2004
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NCTNGASCTXKYSouthern StatesMIOHPAINILWINorthern States0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000Population per governmental unit1,7851,8251,9962,4523,1413,5842,8444,5555,8595,9126,2338,667
Source: US Statistical Abstract
GASCTXTNKYNCSouthern StatesOHPAILMIINWINorthern States0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5Local government administration employment per 1,000 population2.22.42.52.62.73.11.41.62.02.12.12.4
Source: US Statistical Abstract
From a competitiveness viewpoint thekey question is this: How much publicoverhead is required to support a givenlevel of population (or income)?Southern states have generally lessfragmentation than Northern states. Eachlocal governmental unit tends to serve alarger population base.The cost consequences show up in, forexample, the number of local governmentadministration staff per 1,000 population.Southern states generally employ fewerlocal government administrators per 1,000population.
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