Intergovernmental Management for the 21st Century

by Timothy J. Conlan (Editor)

" America's complex system of multi-layered government faces new challenges as a result of rapidly changing economic, technological, and demographic trends. An aging population, economic globalization, and homeland security concerns are among the powerful factors testing the system's capacity and flexibility. Major policy challenges and responses are now overwhelmingly intergovernmental in nature, and as a result, the fortunes of all levels of government are more intertwined and interdependent than ever before. This volume, cosponsored by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), defines an agenda for improving the performance of America's intergovernmental system. The early chapters present the current state of practice in intergovernmental relations, including discussion of trends toward centralization, devolution, and other power-sharing arrangements. The fiscal underpinnings of the system are analyzed, along with the long-term implications of current trends in financing at all levels. The authors identify the principal tools used to define intergovernmental management–grants, mandates, preemptions—in discussing emerging models and best practices in the design and management of those tools. In tergovernmental Management for the 21st Century a pplies these crosscutting themes to critical policy areas where intergovernmental management and cooperation are essential, such as homeland security, education, welfare, health care, and the environment. It concludes with an authoritative assessment of the system's capacity to govern, oversee, and improve. Contributors include Jocelyn Johnston (American University), Shelley Metzenbaum (University of Maryland), Richard Nathan (SUNY at Albany), Barry Rabe (University of Michigan), Beryl Radin (American University), Alice Rivlin (Brookings Institution), Ray Sheppach (National Governors Association), Frank Shafroth (George Mason University), Troy Smith (BYU–Hawaii), Carl Stenberg (University of North Carolina), Carol Weissert (Florida State University), Charles Wise (Indiana University), and Kenneth Wong (Brown University). "

Genres: Nonfiction, Public Policy

383 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the debate over the Constitution, "Publius," in the "Federalist Papers," argued for the value of dividing power between the national and state governments. From the origins of the United States, the principle of dividing power between the central and state governments and the value of state governments working with one another has been a defining characteristic.

This book explores intergovernmental relations today. The book's emphasis is exemplified in this quotation (Page x): "Collectively, the authors [of the chapters in this book:] shout loud and clear, 'Pay attention to our federal system! It is changing; it is stressed, and the stresses are about to get worse. If you care about improving public services in the United States, work hard now to understand and improve the functioning of our federal system.'" With the financial problems still apparently worsening, states are stressed, are having to reduce services, and are finding it difficult to get funding for infrastructure improvements. The times fit the call for action in that preceding quotation.

The book itself is composed of three parts. Part I examines the nature of the intergovernmental debate here, including chapters on updating theories of federalism (authored by Richard Nathan), the evolution of federalism over time (Timothy Conlon), and intergovernmental finance in the global economy (Raymond Scheppach and Frank Shafroth).

Part II looks at a variety of policy arenas and what is at stake in each. Among the policy arenas explored: homeland security (Charles Wise and Rania Nader), education (Kenneth Wong), welfare reform (Jocelyn Johnston), Medicaid (Carol Weissert and William Weissert), and climate change (Barry Rabe).

The final segment of the book examines issues of governance in the intergovernmental system. A sampling of issues: mandates (Paul Posner), performance management (Beryl Radin), and block grants (Carl Sternberg).

The final chapter lays out where we need to go from here.

For those who wish to get a sense of the nature of America's intergovernmental system, how it operates, and what future challenges are could do a lot worse than starting with this book. An excellent resource.