Estimating the fiscal impact of secession: the case of staten island and new york city

This study is how to estimate the fiscal effects of secession; it uses the case of Staten Island, which has progressed through several of the pre-secession steps from the City of New York. We present estimates of expenditures and revenues; we also discuss the many conceptual issues involved in making this and any other projection of the fiscal impact of secession. The methodological issues are described and the specific choices made are identified. The article reports the findings and concludes with a discussion of what the data and analyses mean and how the Staten Island Charter Commission used them.