An analysis of the factor that local public organization reduced the water charge.

Abstract

　In the situation that people infected with COVID-19 increase, some municipalities have reduced or exempted water charges to support the livelihoods of residents. This paper analyzes the factors behind the reduction and exemption of water charges for 26 municipalities in Kyoto Prefecture among 14 months from January 2020 to February 2021. First, since the existence of special grant from the national government was introduced during this period, I analyze the impact of that information. Secondly, this exemption is being implemented in multiple municipalities. From this situation, I examine whether cross-reference behavior with other municipalities influenced municipalities for the choice of the reduction and exemption of water charges. In this paper, some variables that are weighted using the distance between municipalities buildings for the verifying this influence from other municipalities are adopted.

　As a result of the analysis, it was found that the municipalities were not affected from the information informed of the existence of the special grant. On the other hand, it was found that the reduction or exemption of water charges in municipalities may affect the same behavior in other municipalities.