Überprüfung der Einwohnergewichtung im System des kommunalen Finanzausgleichs in Nordrhein-Westfalen

We examine the so called „Hauptansatzstaffel“ for municipal spending of the horizontal fiscal equalization scheme in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Hauptansatzstaffel describes a non-linear relationship between population and fiscal need. The Hauptansatzstaffel and other elements (demography, pupils, social spending, cen-trality, and area) give rise to a figure describing fiscal need in the horizontal fiscal equalization scheme. The weighting of population in the Hauptansatzstaffel was investigated based on public finance theory and an empirical analysis. We employ regression techniques and simulate redistribution effects in the horizontal fiscal equalization scheme.