Alone in the Multitude? Central Cities and their Role in Public Services Networks

This three-essay dissertation studies the role of central or principal cities in public services networks. The standards that define central cities have evolved at a different pace than that of metropolitan regions. Central cities are not only the largest core jurisdictions in their regions but a larger list of cities that concentrate population and jobs and form polycentric structures of interdependence in their regions. Our knowledge on the cross-boundary dynamics between central and noncentral cities for public service delivery remains incipient. The three essays on this dissertation are intended to address the general question of how central cities interact with their neighboring jurisdictions to provide services. The first essay presents a systematic review aimed to summarize how much have we learned during the last 50 years about central cities and collaboration for service delivery in the United States. It findings highlight the question of how generalizable are the findings of local governments’ collaboration to central cities. The second essay presents a descriptive network analysis focused on analyzing where are central cities located in four service networks- economic development, water systems, street and roads, and public safety. The essay discusses the common partners for central cities in each service domain and how the activities performed collaboratively between central cities and other jurisdictions differ from those not involving central cities. The third essay presents longitudinal network models that analyze how general characteristics of central cities affect their likelihood of collaboration for service delivery. Variables that operationalize fiscal health, demographic diversity, and city’s longevity are included in two service models- information services and public safety. While longevity and demographic diversity show no statistically significant results, budget solvency shows a negative relationship with collaboration. Based on these findings, higher levels of fiscal stress as one characteristic of central cities increase the likelihood of collaboration across time.