| It is widely recognized that there are likely to be benefits from cooperation among local governments in metropolitan areas. This study explores what accounts for variation in cooperation among such governments. To this end, the main research goals of this dissertation are to define and create a typology of metropolitan area intergovernmental cooperation; develop a measure of intergovernmental cooperation, and examine, in a systematic way, factors suggested by the literature, both theoretic and empirical, to affect cooperation. In discussing the factors that affect cooperation, I explore them from both the Public Choice and Regionalist schools of thought. These two paradigma view the need for and motivations leading to cooperation differently. This analysis explores how the factors that actually affect cooperation relate to both of there paradigms and their views of the world.;In measuring interlocal cooperation, this study uses metropolitan area interlocal expenditures. This measure of fiscal cooperation varied considerably by metropolitan area. Among the major findings from this study are that contrary to much of the literature, fragmentation has a very limited impact on cooperation, and where there is an impact, it is positive. This study also finds that the single most important factor affecting interlocal cooperation is the state institutional and policy environment. This study also strongly supports the extant literature that suggests that cooperation is more likely to occur in the provision of System Maintenance services than Lifestyle services.;This study concludes that there is not definitive support for either the Public Choice or Regionalist school of thought. |
