Avoiding Expensive Municipal Mergers

An article in The Wall Street Journal discussed attempts to merge local governments in Michigan. While efforts such as these gain wide support because of the belief that they will save money, there evidence shows the opposite.

Government consolidations may seem to make all of the sense in the world academically. In practice, they cost more. There are no economies of scale in larger governments, except for spending interests. Voters have less influence in larger jurisdictions.

A simple look at the evidence, rather than the theory, indicates this. Our analysis in five states shows it, and the differences are stark. Lower per capita spending and taxation at the local general government level is associated with smaller units of government.

It is not therefore surprising that in Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa there have been calls to "demerge" cities forcibly merged in the 1990s. In a debate in Toronto last October with a top transit official (a member of the left leaning National Democratic Party), we agreed on at least one thing --- that Toronto's amalgamation had been a mistake.

Nor is it surprising that despite huge electoral barriers erected by the Charest government, a number of municipalities voted to demerge from the forcibly enlarged ville de Montreal in the early 2000s.

For the most part, however, there is no going back. Mergers are forever. So are the higher taxes and higher spending.

My commentary in Canada's National Post  dealt with this issue on the 10th anniversary of the Toronto amalgamation.

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Buying alcohol at night in London has always seemed a daunting task, where to go – the black market off license located on that dimly lit street or head to that vastly overpriced night club that everyone is raving purely because it is open until the early hours of the morning!

Well thank fully, help is at hand – at last alcohol delivered on demand – lets keep that party alive!

Licensing laws were amended during 2005 and alcohol delivery companies like DrinksXpress have been offering alcohol delivery your very front door in areas such as London.

Late night alcohol delivery london is becoming as popular as pizza delivery these days with alcohol companies popping up all over London especially in recent years. There is a large choice of strong proof drinks available, with some companies offering large menus of different spirited drinks and others offer main stream brands such as Smirnoff vodka, Gordon's Gin & Jack Daniels.

Beers or rather lagers, as you would expect, include Fosters, Kronenbourg & Stella Artois. Most companies advertise that the beers are delivered ice cold and are offered for sale in 4 packs, 8, 12 and 24 packs.

Wine delivery is equally catered for with all companies offering 24 hour alcohol via a variety of reds, whites and rose wines. Others also offer Prosecco as a sparkling wine alternative and virtually all drinks delivery companies offer some sort of champagne delivery service. DrinksXpress offered a wide variety with 6 different champagnes including rose champagne.

Late night food delivery in recent years has boomed, with new delivery companies opening and existing food delivery companies expanding their opening hours by obtaining late night refreshment licenses in addition to their hot food licenses – undoubtedly 24 hour pizza delivery will end up being a front runner in the late night food delivery league; if there ever becomes one of course! It seems that alcohol delivery companies have gone one step further by combining 24 hour alcohol delivery with 24 hour pizza and late night food delivery.

It seems that most alcohol delivery companies have latched on to the convenience market very firmly, the concept appears to work. A quick inspection of delivery middlemen sites such as Hungryhouse and JustEat further confirms this. Most alcohol delivery companies seem to have a second string to their bow; cigarette delivery - London is a huge city with a vast population and this makes the smaller profits margins more viable.

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