Equity in Local Service Distribution.

The authors propose a set of general tests of equity for local administrators to use in distributing public services. Four service categories are distinguished, and the problems of analyzing equitable service delivery for each category are discussed. A methodology for geographic analysis of service distribution is proposed. Emphasis is placed on the importance of analyzing service distribution equity using measures of combinations of indicators of resources, activities, results, and opinions. Departures from equal treatment need to be justified, in part, by using service measures. Despite the difficulties of measurement, officials in large local governments will have a much sounder basis for decisions about service distribution, if analysis of equity becomes part of operating routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]