As public demand for greater governmental efficiency and accountability continues to grow, it is essential for public policy-makers and administrators to justify the provision of public services through various performance measures. Citizen quality of life is a common indicator of government performance within the emergent literature as the existence of numerous public entities is predicated on their ability to provide valuable services. This study, therefore, builds on the extant literature by testing the impact of local government services on citizens’ quality of life. Using survey data collected from individuals residing in a large U.S. city government, the results of econometric analyses provide further confirmation that the quality of local government services significantly impacts the overall quality of life experienced by citizens. Specifically, ethical administrative practices, waste services, cultural services, economic development services, and transportation services were found to be statistically significant predictors of citizen quality of life.

 

Key words: Local government administration, public services, public policy, quality of life.