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Balancing Regionalism and Localism: How Institutions and Incentives Shape American Transportation Policy

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  • Elisabeth R. Gerber
  • Clark C. Gibson

Abstract

Public policy decisions are increasingly made by regional governance efforts that involve diverse decision makers from multiple government units within a geographic region. These decision‐making bodies face competing pressures to represent regional and local interests. We study how decision makers balance preferences for regionalism and localism within metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), the policymaking entities that are responsible for implementing U.S. federal surface transportation policy at the regional level. Our model of regional governance relates variation in regional policy outcomes to the incentives of MPO decision makers and the institutional environments in which they interact. Analyzing data from a sample of the nation's largest metropolitan areas, we find that MPOs dominated by elected officials produce more locally focused policies, holding other factors constant, while MPOs dominated by nonelected public managers produce more regionally oriented policies. Contextual factors, as well as the regional governance institutions themselves, further shape the balance between regionalism and localism.

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  • Elisabeth R. Gerber & Clark C. Gibson, 2009. "Balancing Regionalism and Localism: How Institutions and Incentives Shape American Transportation Policy," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(3), pages 633-648, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:amposc:v:53:y:2009:i:3:p:633-648
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5907.2009.00391.x
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    3. Boarnet, Marlon G., 2014. "National transportation planning: Lessons from the U.S. Interstate Highways," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 73-82.
    4. Eduardo Grin & Gustavo Fernandes, 2023. "Federal Policy Design Matters for Inter-Municipal Cooperation? An Analysis of Health and Education Brazilian Public Policies," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 883-904, September.
    5. Sciara, Gian-Claudia & Rahman, Mashrur & Walthall, Rydell, 2021. "A seat at the table? Transit representation in U.S. metropolitan planning," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 165-173.
    6. Elisabeth R. Gerber & Carolyn G. Loh, 2011. "Prospects for Expanding Regional Planning Efforts in Michigan," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(11), pages 2303-2319, August.
    7. Zarychta, Alan, 2020. "Making social services work better for the poor: Evidence from a natural experiment with health sector decentralization in Honduras," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    8. Geoffrey A. Battista & Kevin Manaugh, 2019. "My way or the highway? Framing transportation planners’ attitudes in negotiating professional expertise and public insight," Transportation, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 1271-1290, August.
    9. Duncan, Michael & Christensen, Robert K., 2013. "An analysis of park-and-ride provision at light rail stations across the US," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 148-157.

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