The Politics of Redistributing Urban Aid - Hardcover

by John G. Heilman (Author), Robert Montjoy (Author), Douglas J. Watson (Author)

Targeted federal aid to needy city areas is difficult to maintain because of political pressure to broaden geographical coverage for continued legislative support, i.e., aid becomes distributive rather than targeted. The effectiveness of a program declines because of the broadening of the program, if all else remains constant. With the last such program, the Urban Development Action Grant (UDAG), the geographic broadening did not occur, which contributed to its termination by Congress. This book details the political pressure and the effectiveness of the UDAG program. It further examines specific events, both legislative and administrative, which tended to lessen the impact of the targeted program.

Author Biography

DOUGLAS J. WATSON holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Auburn University. He has served as city manager of Auburn, AL since 1982 and has received numerous awards for his work as a public administrator. A native of Rochester, New York, he grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

JOHN G. HEILMAN holds a Ph.D. from New York University and has served on the faculty at Auburn University since 1973. Presently, he is Associate Dean of the college of Liberal Arts and Professor of Political Science. He is a native of New York City.

ROBERT S. MONTJOY is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Auburn University, where he is also Director of the MPA program. Dr. Montjoy has served as the Special Assitant to the Alabama Secretary of State, and as the Acting Head of the Department of Political Science at Auburn.