AN ANALYSIS OF OPTIMAL DEVOLVED GOVERNMENT SIZE FOR GROWTH: ARMEY CURVE IN KENYA

16 PAGES (4768 WORDS) Economics Article/Essay

This study, assuming a balanced budget, attempts to estimate the optimal size of
devolved government expenditure in 47 Kenyan counties using the panel ARDL
regression and Scully (2008) model for the period 2014-2018. The estimation model
examined Armey’s idea of a quadratic curve that explains the level of government
expenditure in an economy and the corresponding level of economic growth. The
panel ARDL series analysis reveals that devolved government size is optimized when
county expenditures stand at 9.7% of GCP (Gross County Product). The estimated
threshold size is higher than the current size of county government in Kenya. The
low level of devolved government size in counties reflects the low level of economic
activities in Counties. This study therefore recommends that county governments
should increase its spending budget on infrastructure, social and economic activities
to 9.7% of GCP to stimulate overall county economic growth.