Atlantic City, with a dwindling population, employs many more workers than cities almost three times its population. The city also pays some of its public officials much more than officials in comparable — and sometimes much larger — cities. Temple historian Bryant Simon, author of Boardwalk of Dreams: Atlantic City and the Fate of Urban America, says today's payroll problems are a result of the city’s history of patronage — from the Republican machine doling out jobs to supporters to highly competitive Democratic races forcing politicians to maintain support through the government work force. "Atlantic City has long had a city government that worked as a patronage machine," said Simon. "Historically, it’s just gotten reproduced again and again and again."