| The locating of public services has quite different
concerns from that of private-sector (or commercial) services. The
underlying theme in the study of the specialization of commercial
services is which cities have proven to be the most effective locations
for various service activities. The distribution of public services,
however, raises quite different perspectives. In addition to asking
“What places are the most effective locations for public services?”,
one can ask “What places are best served?” and “Are
the benefits of government activity widely and fairly dispersed?”
Five measures of government activity are available, representing
employment at all three levels of government and employment in health
and education. Employment in public administration at the three
levels of government - federal, provincial, and municipal - is primarily
important in understanding the economic impact of government jobs
on local communities. Employment in education and social services
is largely funded by the provincial governments; and health-care
employment, jointly funded by the federal and provincial government,
is allocated by the provinces. These activities provide the most
significant social benefits. |
