The Hidden Architects of Regional Power: How RIGOs Shape Governance, Influence, and Collaboration

This dissertation explores how Regional Intergovernmental Organizations (RIGOs) influence interlocal collaboration and shape governance power structures in the United States. RIGOs have gained prominence as institutional mechanisms to address complex regional challenges, but questions remain about their effectiveness and equity in governance. This study adopts a two-essay format to address these gaps using rigorous empirical approaches. The first essay uses the Augmented Synthetic Control Method (ASCM) to assess the causal impact of RIGO formation on interlocal collaboration in Iowa. By analyzing longitudinal data from a newly established RIGO in 2007, the study evaluates changes in the frequency, complexity, and diversity of interlocal agreements across treated and comparison counties. Findings show that RIGOs significantly enhance collaboration, particularly by increasing the number and sustainability of interlocal agreements. However, the effects are heterogeneous and often delayed, depending on local context and administrative capacity. The second essay investigates power allocation within RIGOs by introducing the Governance Representation Disparity Index (GRDI), a novel metric capturing the misalignment between a county’s voting power and its population or economic status. Using a national sample of 182 RIGOs spanning 1,232 counties, this study finds that while population size is a primary driver of voting power, institutional rules often modify this relationship, sometimes amplifying or constraining the influence of smaller or wealthier jurisdictions. These disparities raise critical concerns about representational equity and governance legitimacy. The final chapter synthesizes findings and proposes a broader empirical framework for RIGO research, encouraging inclusion of multiple RIGOs per region, recognition of single-function entities, and the application of advanced quantitative methods. Overall, this dissertation contributes new insights into the causal impact and institutional dynamics of RIGOs, offering both theoretical advancement and practical guidance for regional governance design.