NCJ Number
8009
Date Published
1970
Length
179 pages
Annotation
INTERPRETATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE BY THE USE OF CONVENTIONAL ECONOMIC THEORY.
Abstract
THE DEFINITION OF AN OUTPUT MEASURE FOR POLICE SERVICES IS CONSIDERED THROUGHOUT. THE MOST DESIRABLE FORM OF OUTPUT MEASURE IS FOUND TO REQUIRE FULL INFORMATION MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD METHODS OF ESTIMATION WITHIN A NONLINEAR EQUATION SYSTEM. A MEASURE DEPENDENT ON EXTRANEOUS WEIGHTS FOR THE OUTPUT COMPONENTS IS EVENTUALLY USED FOR ESTIMATION OF COST EQUATION PARAMETERS. THE MODEL PERMITS A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF QUESTIONS OF RETURNS TO SCALE IN THE PROVISION OF POLICE SERVICES. QUESTIONS OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION ARE APPROACHED, BUT STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS LIMIT THEIR INTERPRETATION. THE MODEL IS CAST IN SUCH A WAY THAT QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE SUPPLY OF OFFENSES ARE ALSO ANALYZED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)