Competing and Cooperating across State Borders in Economic Development

Abstract

This essay discusses the evolution of cross-border cooperation in local and state government in the contentious and competitive arena of economic development. Drawing on literatures from economic development and public administration, the authors highlight current issues and conflicts in cross-border cooperation drawing on several cases of successful ventures. In particular, they suggest that state and local governments adopt a new frame for understanding and evaluating cross-border cooperation as economic development “coopertition.” The logic of coopertition in economic development is that while a particular unit of government may not secure a specific economic development project, the odds of securing any project are increased if that government becomes more competitive by cooperating with other governments. Coopertition is thus the result of a need to cooperate to be more competitive.