Big City, Big Ideas: The Politics of City Finance

Today, American cities generally have more independent authority and fiscal autonomy than their Canadian counterparts. Home Rule status and other legal rights provide municipal governments with significant authority to govern their own affairs without constant state intervention.

Yet, in the age of devolution, has federalism really worked to support the service delivery challenges of American cities? Does the American federal system really provide cities with sufficient control over their expenditures and access to revenue to support the governance challenges of the twenty first century city, especially economic development and job creation in the competitive global economy?

SPEAKER

Ester Fuchs is Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science at Columbia University, former Special Advisor to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Chair of NYC’s Charter Revision Commission. She will discuss how fiscal federalism in the United States is failing America’s mayors, and what should be done about it.

The session was moderated by Anne Golden, Distinguished Visiting Scholar & Special Advisor, Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University, and Past President and CEO of the Conference Board of Canada.