Small-area estimates in local governance: Use of small-area estimates in local governance in the development of service-delivery and resource-allocation mechanisms

Abstract

The existing decision-making processes informing local resource-allocation mechanisms across Scotland tend to utilise historic or most recent data on life outcomes and deprivation without placing sufficient emphasis on the predictive capacity of the historic time series data. This thesis provides an analysis of spatio-temporal patterns in levels of out-of-work benefits claimant rates in relation to macroeconomic events. It aims to inform resourceallocation and service-delivery mechanisms across Scottish local authorities. The research addresses the utilisation of publicly available neighbourhood-level data sets focusing on evaluating the efficiency of local service-delivery mechanisms across Scotland. Additionally, the thesis considers the importance of spatially aggregated life outcome indicators, service user and expenditure data in the context of informing the development of non-uniform service-delivery mechanisms. The work also addresses methodological and operational issues concerned with the utilisation of small-area data across Scotland in relation to small-area deprivation and local governance.