| Abstract: | Path analysis is employed to identify major influences on twoforms of state aid to cities—financial and programmatic.Considerable support is found for a sequential model in whichstate resources and city need are modified by the politicalclimate and the legal/structural characteristics of the state.For financial aid, the most powerful influences are a professionalizedlegislature and a legal system under which cities are responsiblefor schools and welfare. Program support is more affected bystate resources and municipal need. In all, those states mostlikely to provide generous support have cities in need, ampleresources, professionalized legislatures, and a decentralizedstate-local structural relationship. |
