A Macro Analysis of the Effects of Planning Agency Professionalism on Municipal Planning Outputs

Abstract

Noting the relative scarcity of macro studies of planning, this research focuses on differences in the professional development of municipal planning agencies. That phenomenon is measured with statistics on both planners and planning organizations. We hypothesize that the more professionalized the municipality's planning agency, the greater the agency's output of planning products, such as plans, technical studies, and zoning regulations. We also hypothesize that certain aspects of the socioeconomic context of municipal planning affect planning outputs. These aspects are resources that suggest a fiscal capacity for planning and social conditions that suggest a need for it. In fact, only the first hypothesis is supported by our data. Correlation and path analysis indicate that only agency professionalism affects planning outputs. Tentative explanations for this result are offered, and specific subjects for additional macro analysis of planning are discussed.

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