Christopher Goodman

Christopher B. Goodman is an Associate Professor of Public Administration. Much of his research exists at the nexus of local public finance, local government management, urban policy, and intergovernmental affairs. His research agenda, in large part, seeks to examine questions of why local areas make the governance decisions they do. As with most research in this realm, these decisions are inextricably linked to public spending, taxation, and state policy issues. He tends to focus on specific questions about the special district form of local government as these governments are under-researched in the relevant literature. A secondary line of research focuses on the state preemption of local ordinances.

Areas of Expertise

  • Local public finance
  • Local government management
  • Intergovernmental affairs 
  • State preemption of local laws

Selected Publications

Christopher B. Goodman and Deborah A. Carroll. Forthcoming.Are Special Districts Strategic Complements or Strategic Substitutes?” Public Administration Review

Christopher B. Goodman and Megan E. Hatch. 2024.Why States Preempt City Ordinances: The Case of Workers’ Rights Laws” Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 54 (1): 121-145. 

Jahee Jong, Christopher B. Goodman, Aaron Deslatte, Jerry Crabtree and Kurt Thurmaier. 2023. “The Forgotten Governments: Exploring Midwestern Township Capacities and Functional Service Responsibilities,” State and Local Government Review 55 (2): 170-184. 

Christopher B. Goodman and Megan E. Hatch. 2023. “State Preemption and Affordable Housing Policy,” Urban Studies, 60 (6): 1048-1065. 

Deborah A. Carroll and Christopher B. Goodman. 2022. “Neighborhood Institutions and Residential Home Sales: Evaluating the Impact of Property Tax Exemptions,” The Journal of Real Estate Finance & Economics 64: 247-273. 

Christopher B. Goodman. 2021. “Political Fragmentation & Economic Growth in U.S. Metropolitan Areas,” Journal of Urban Affairs 43 (9): 1355-1376. 

Christopher B. Goodman, Megan E. Hatch, and Bruce D. McDonald, III. 2021. “State Preemption of Local Laws: Origins and Modern Trends,” Perspectives on Public Management & Governance 4 (2): 146-158.


Contact

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Associate Professor
IA 204
815-753-6146
cgoodman@niu.edu

Education

Ph.D., University of Georgia

Curriculum Vitae

Contact Us

Department of Public Administration
IASBO Building (2nd Floor)
815-753-0183
publicadm@niu.edu
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Office Hours

Monday-Friday
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Lunch break: noon-1 p.m.