Dimensions of Interjurisdictional Cooperation: Fid-Bau Portal

Dimensions of Interjurisdictional Cooperation

Nunn, Samuel / Rosentraub, Mark S.

Recommendations for solving the problems of urban regions often call for more cooperation among cities, to develop regional identities in a competitive world and to promote effective problem-solving among municipalities. Yet we know little about how interjurisdictional cooperation evolves, and few guides exist to help urban areas establish more cooperative environments. This paper addresses four questions about cooperation: (1) What is interjurisdictional cooperation conceptually and operationally? (2) What are the behavioral and tactical approaches by which it operates? (3) What are the institutional formats in which it evolves? (4) How can policy makers anticipate its outcomes? These questions are investigated using a descriptive model that links the objectives, tactics, institutional forms, and outcomes of interjurisdictional cooperation. Five case studies of regional cooperation are also analyzed. Our analysis indicates that cooperative organizations exhibit common structural and tactical schemes. However, there is no “one best way” to encourage cooperation; certain activities such as fiscal equalization may create richer and more intensive cooperation. Lastly, the success of interjurisdictional cooperation should be judged on the basis of the outcomes desired by the participating jurisdictions.