Orchestrating economic development: exploring interorganizational networks in the Chicago metro area

This dissertation used a survey research method approach to analyze intergovernmental collaboration in the Chicago metro area by exploring the social network structure of cooperation, the conditions under which local governments cooperate and the resulting outcomes of cooperation. The results suggests that communities in the Chicago metro area are spatially aware of the roles of neighboring communities in the socio-economic structure of the region, as well as the role that each community plays within the region. However, the results also reveal the presence of a sparse network between communities; primarily because intergovernmental networking is not dense in Chicago. A logistic regression model was used to test the extent to which a combination of community characteristics and intergovernmental network resources influenced voluntary cooperation. The findings suggest that some of the factors influencing cooperation include collaborative norms and trust, network centralization, the competitive development activity of local governments, and whether the leading development agency is a public-private entity. Finally, collaboration was found to be a great resource for building consensus; making the region socio-economically stronger, more efficient; and facilitating experimentation, learning and evolution in economic development. The current study aims to explore and provide a better understanding of the interorganizational efforts in the Chicago metro area, a region where research has suggested significant levels of independence and limited intraregional intergovernmental cooperation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• De Leon Alejandro, Jose David

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hewings, Geoffrey J.D.
• Feser, Edward J.
• McLafferty, Sara L.
• Cidell, Julie

• Intergovernmental collaboration

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 José D. De León-Alejandro

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/78605

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/78605