Inter-municipal cooperation and regionalism provide an alternative to privatization which allows the public sector to achieve scale without resorting to privatization. While direct consolidation is rare, special districts to address particular government functions are proliferating. These districts raise concerns of accountability and representativeness. Consolidation at the regional level is contrasted with decentralization of service delivery at the neighborhood level. Presented as a means to enhance citizen access and involvement, comprehensive neighborhood based initiatives involve coalitions of government, private and non profit sector actors.
Planners are often key architects of regionalization and decentralization initiatives.
One class will be devoted to this topic as will a class on the role of the non-profit sector in governmental restructuring. As a discussion based seminar, class participation is essential. Students will have read materials prior to class and be prepared to discuss them. In addition students will be expected to prepare short written summaries of 3 readings during the semester. Two of these can be from the syllabus.