Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

DOI

10.1177/1087724X14559102

Publication Title

Public Works Management and Policy

Volume

20

Issue

2

Pages

146-158

Abstract

This research note compares the effect on willingness to raise taxes and government fees of three common approaches to public consultation: (a) a telephone survey with no information or discussion, (b) a focus group with discussion but no information relating need to the proposed tax or fee, and (c) a focus group with discussion and such information. Our purpose is twofold: (a) illustrate the contribution of pertinent information to public acceptance of tax or fee increases, and (b) suggest a more comprehensive and informative approach to consultation with the public. We do so using the examples of raising the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. The results show that the combination of information and discussion produces the greatest level of support for both revenue enhancing options. Implications for presenting proposals to raise taxes and fees are discussed.

Comments

NOTE: This is the author’s final version (post-print) of a work that was published in Public Works Management and Policy. The final version was published as:

Yusuf, J.-E., & O’Connell, L. (2015). The effects of discussion and information on public support for tax and fee increases for transportation. Public Works Management and Policy, 20(2), 146-158. doi: 10.1177/1087724X14559102

The final publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1087724x14559102

ORCID

0000-0003-3599-1417 (Yusuf), 0000-0002-3727-3016 (O'Connell)

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